A qualitative examination of women’s experiences with risk information exchange during pregnancy: similarities in experiences across a multi-state U.S. Based sample

ABSTRACT

Background

This qualitative study examines women’s experiences with risk information exchange during their pregnancy.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 women (aged 25–38) from September 2018 to February 2019. A non-random purposive sample of women who had given birth in the past year was invited to participate in the study. Women were invited by reaching out to personal contacts as well as through sending out a bulk institutional email, posting on mothers’ Facebook groups’ pages, and by giving out flyers to OB/mid-wife offices. The women represent an educated sample, and nearly half of the participants reported experiencing complications. Thematic analysis was conducted, with researchers individually engaging in open coding, and then collectively engaging in selective coding across multiple analysis sessions.

Results

Thematic analysis showed that all the women had different information preferences. Women who had a prior history of pregnancy risk reported engaging in active information seeking. All of the women in this study felt that information was withheld from them, with the exception of information about C-sections, birth plans, and genetic testing. Some women also reported that information was withheld from them when complications occurred during the pregnancy. Lastly, the data illustrate a need for verifying underlying emotions during information exchange as noted by all women.

Conclusions

Women in this study reported varying preferences for information exchange. The women reported unmet information needs. The women highlight the need for providers to attend to emotions during information exchange.

KEYWORDS:

• Information Seeking Behavior
• emotions
• pregnancy complications
• information dissemination
• decision making

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval statement

This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board at James Madison University.

Funding None.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sharlene T. Richards

Sharlene T. Richards, Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma, 2005) has been teaching at James Madison University since 2005. She is a full professor and teaches in the health communication concentration, health communication minor, as well as in research methods. She is published in Health Communication, Journal of Communication in Healthcare, Prism, The American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, as well as other journals and books. Her most recent research is focused on examining communication surrounding post-partum pre-eclampsia, particularly as it occurs in the emergency room setting. Other research interests include investigating occupational therapist–parent communication, and interpersonal health communication.

Iccha Basnyat

Iccha Basnyat, Ph.D. (Purdue University) is an Associate Professor at James Madison University. Prior to JMU, she spent a number of years in the Department of Communication at the National University of Singapore. She teaches in the health communication concentration, health communication minor, as well as research methods. She has published in Communication Theory, Health Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Culture, Health & Sexuality, Qualitative Health Research, Health Education & Behavior as well as other journals and books. Her research primarily examines the cultural context of health, structural limitations to health, health inequalities, and health experiences at the margins.