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The Role of Health Information Sources in Decision-Making Among Hispanic Mothers During Their Children’s First 1000 Days of Life

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Abstract

Objectives

This qualitative research aimed to explore how health information sources inform decision-making among Hispanic mothers during their children’s first 1000 days of life (conception-age 24 months), and to generate appropriate health information sources and communication strategies for future interventions.

Methods

We conducted seven focus groups with 49 Hispanic women who were pregnant or had children <2 years old. Domains included interpersonal and media sources, source trustworthiness, dealing with contradictory information, and how information affects decision-making. We used immersion/crystallization process for analysis.

Results

Trusted health information sources included health care providers, female and male family members, BabyCenter.com and other Internet sources, selected social media, and television. Some immigrant women reported preferring the Internet citing less established local support networks. Women highlighted the importance of validating health information through checking multiple sources for consistency and resolving contradictory information. Mothers expressed interest in receiving reliable website links from healthcare professionals and outreach to extended family.

Conclusions for Practice

Cultural factors, including immigration status, are important in understanding the use of health information sources and their role in decision-making about pregnancy and child health among Hispanic mothers. Healthcare providers and public health professionals should consider Hispanic mothers health information environment and provide culturally-relevant communication strategies and interventions during this high information-seeking time period.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by NIH grants from R01MD003963 (E.M.T.) and 3T32DK7477-30 S1 (J.W.B.); predoctoral training grants from NIH Award No. 3R25CA057711 (S.C.), the Initiative to Maximize Student Diversity Award No. GM055353-13 (S.C.); and Maternal and Child Health Bureau Award No. T03MC07648 (S.C.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Shaniece Criss & Roberta E. Goldman

  2. Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Jennifer A. Woo Baidal

  3. Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Jennifer A. Woo Baidal, Meghan Perkins, Courtney Cunningham & Elsie M. Taveras

  4. Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI, 02860, USA

    Roberta E. Goldman

Authors
  1. Shaniece Criss
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  2. Jennifer A. Woo Baidal
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  3. Roberta E. Goldman
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  4. Meghan Perkins
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  5. Courtney Cunningham
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  6. Elsie M. Taveras
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Correspondence to Shaniece Criss.

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Criss, S., Woo Baidal, J.A., Goldman, R.E. et al. The Role of Health Information Sources in Decision-Making Among Hispanic Mothers During Their Children’s First 1000 Days of Life. Matern Child Health J 19, 2536–2543 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1774-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1774-2

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