Pregnant Women’s Health Information Needs And Information Seeking Behavior In Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja

Abstract

The study investigated pregnant women’s health information needs and information seeking behavior in Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja. The study is been guided by five research questions. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population consist of 62 registered women which were all sampled. Data were collected from respondents through a closed-ended structured questionnaire and the responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics which comprises of mean and standard deviation. The study identifies pre-natal vitamins, their importance, information on healthy dietary choices and meal planning during pregnancy as the major health information needs. It was found that reliable sources include healthcare professionals, pregnancy-related books, antenatal programs, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. However, caution is advised regarding online medical websites and articles, as they may not always provide trustworthy information due to the potential of unverified sources. Customized health information materials (leaflets, apps, and websites) should be developed to meet the diverse needs of pregnant women.