Pregnant Women’s Utilisation of Social Media for Accessing Perinatal Health Related Information

Abstract

The rapid rise of digital technologies has transformed how pregnant women seek health information, with social media platforms like facebook, instagram and specialised health forums becoming key sources of perinatal information. These platforms not only provide medical content but also peer support and interaction. Despite their growing use, there is limited research on how pregnant and postpartum women utilise these platforms, the types of information they seek and the impact on their health decisions, particularly in specific urban settings. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess pregnant women's utilisation of social media for accessing perinatal health-related information. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, targeting a purposive sample of 350 pregnant and postpartum women attending maternity and child health centres in the Fifth District of Badr City, Cairo, Egypt. Data was collected using three tools: I) Socio-demographic and obstetric history questionnaire, II) Perinatal health information assessment questionnaire, and III) Satisfaction with different social media platforms. Results: The majority of participants (97.1%) used social media daily for health-related information, especially antenatal care. Facebook (86.3%) and youtube (85.4%) were the most popular platforms. Over half (54.3%) considered the information highly reliable. Frequent social media use was significantly correlated with higher satisfaction and greater influence on health decision-making (p < 0.001). Many women also sought social and emotional support through these platforms. Conclusion: Social media plays a critical role in shaping maternal health literacy and decision-making. Given the reliance on these platforms, especially facebook and youtube, there is a clear need to promote digital literacy to help women critically evaluate the credibility of online health information.