Sociodemographic Determinants of Information Sources Availability and Use Among Pregnant Women in Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the influence of sociodemographic variables on information sources availability and use among pregnant women. A questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. In all, 141 copies of questionnaire were distributed in three selected hospitals. Ninety-six usable copies of the questionnaire were obtained from pregnant women and then analyzed to obtain results for this study. Findings suggest that sociodemographic variables jointly accounted for 56 percent of the total variance in the prediction of availability of information sources among pregnant women. The results also indicated that sociodemographic variables jointly accounted for 43.3 percent of the total variance in the prediction of use of information among pregnant women. Age and occupational status played a significant role in availability and use of information sources among pregnant women. Pregnant women were also found to rely mainly on the radio, television and antenatal clinic for pregnancy-related information. The study recommends that health care professionals should provide more evidence-based information and partner with medical and public librarians to ensure that pregnant women have access to useful information resources.