Table 3 Exploration of the need for information among pregnant women and mothers

Seeking perinatal information at least once during pregnancy and/or after delivery (n (%))

423

 -*

 -*

 -*

 Yes

405 (95.7)

 No

18 (4.26)

Seeking perinatal information during pregnancy OR after delivery (n (%))

 423

 0.03

 Yes

368 (87.0)

247 (84.6)

121 (92.4)

 No

55 (13.0)

45 (15.4)

10 (7.63)

Using the Internet to seek for information (n (%))

407

0.18

 Yes

 372 (91.4)

 257 (90.2)

 115 (94.3)

 No

35 (8.60)

28 (9.82)

7 (5.74)

Frequency of the use of the Internet (n (%))

371

<0.0001

 Each day

35 (9.43)

26 (10.1)

9 (7.89)

 Very often

153 (41.2)

115 (44.7)

38 (33.3)

 Often

97 (26.1)

53 (20.6)

44 (38.6)

 Sometimes 

86 (23.2)

63 (24.5)

23 (20.2)

Easy or difficult to find information on the Internet (mean ± SD/10; very difficult=0 – very easy=10)

371

6.74 ± 1.83

6.65 ± 1.85

6.94 ± 1.77

0.12

Finding incomplete information on the Internet (n (%))

371

0.12

 Always

21 (5.66)

17 (6.61)

4 (3.51)

 Often

245 (66.0)

175 (68.1)

70 (61.4)

 Rarely

100 (27.0)

63 (24.5)

37 (32.5)

 Never

5 (1.35)

2 (0.78)

3 (2.63)

Finding false information on the Internet (n (%))

371

0.49

 Always

6 (1.62)

5 (1.95)

1 (0.88)

 Often

135 (36.4)

95 (37.0)

40 (35.1)

 Rarely

215 (56.0)

149 (58.0)

66 (57.9)

 Never

15 (4.04)

8 (3.11)

7 (6.14)

Quality of information on the Internet (mean ± SD/10; very bad=0 – very good=10)

371

5.29 ± 1.48

5.30 ± 1.42

5.26 ± 1.61

0.99

Utility of information on the Internet (mean ± SD/10; very useless=0 – very useful=10)

369

6.08 ± 1.59

6.07 ± 1.61

6.12 ± 1.54

0.69

Influence of the information found on the Internet on the management of the child (mean ± SD/10; very poor=0 – very strong=10)

253

4.43 ± 2.37

4.43 ± 2.37

-

-

Reasons for searching for information on the Internet (n/N (%))

/

- To determine information “on their own”

316/362 (87.3)

220/252 (87.3)

96/110 (87.3)

0.99

- To check for information about specific maternal or child symptoms

268/364 (73.6)

177/253 (70.0)

91/111 (82.0)

0.02

- To have more control over decisions affecting their own health or their child’s health

156/360 (43.3)

115/252 (45.6)

41/108 (38.0)

0.18

- Because a health care provider had recommended a particular website

31/355 (8.73)

21/248 (8.47)

10/107 (9.35)

0.30

- Because they found one or more well-designed websites that made them want to read information

216/358 (60.3)

152/250 (60.8)

64/108 (59.3)

0.31

- To acquire information in addition to that already provided by health professionals

253/362 (69.9)

184/252 (73.0)

69/110 (62.7)

0.05

- Because the information provided by a health professional was not clear

79/358 (22.1)

62/251 (24.7)

17/107 (15.9)

0.07

- Because the information provided by a health professional was not satisfactory

72/356 (20.2)

59/250 (23.6)

13/106 (12.3)

0.01

- Because of a lack of time to ask a health professional questions

118/358 (33.0)

88/249 (35.3)

30/109 (27.5)

0.15

- Because women did not feel comfortable or did not dare to ask questions to their healthcare professional

93/357 (26.1)

74/249 (29.7)

19/108 (17.6)

0.02

- To gain confidence to speak to a health professional about a concern

61/355 (17.2)

45/248 (18.1)

16/107 (15.0)

0.25

- To have a second opinion

190/356 (53.4)

141/249 (56.6)

49/107 (45.8)

0.06

Thought that professionals should suggest suitable websites

421

0.47

Yes

315 (74.8)

214 (73.8)

101 (77.1)

No

106 (25.2)

76 (26.2)

30 (22.9)