Study of Health Information Seeking Behaviour on Social Media Among Pregnant Women in Rivers State

Pregnant women in Nigeria increasingly turn to social media for health information, yet the accuracy of information available on these platforms and the behavioural implications of such information seeking are significant public health concerns in the South South context. This study examined health information seeking behaviour on social media among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Rivers State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics at two public hospitals in Port Harcourt, sampled through consecutive sampling. The questionnaire assessed platforms used for health information seeking, types of information sought, credibility assessment practices, and information-sharing behaviour with healthcare providers. Results showed that 86.4 percent of respondents sought health information on social media during their current pregnancy, with YouTube (64.5 percent) and WhatsApp (73.6 percent) as the primary platforms. Information on nutrition (78.2 percent), pregnancy symptoms (71.8 percent), and labour preparation (65.5 percent) was most frequently sought. However, only 37.3 percent routinely verified information received with their healthcare provider, and 22.7 percent reported acting on social media health advice that contradicted clinical guidance. Formal health literacy level was a significant predictor of critical information assessment practices. The study concludes that social media health information seeking among pregnant women in Rivers State is widespread and occasionally involves health risks from misinformation, recommending integration of social media health literacy counselling into routine antenatal care provision.

Keywords: health information seeking, social media, pregnant women, Rivers State, antenatal care