Outcomes of Equity-Oriented, Web-Based Parenting Information in Mothers of Low Socioeconomic Status Compared to Other Mothers: Participatory Mixed Methods Study

• Published in: Journal of medical Internet research 2020-11, Vol.22 (11), p.e22440-e22440
• Main Authors: Pluye, Pierre, El Sherif, Reem, Gonzalez-Reyes, Araceli, Turcotte, Emmanuelle, Schuster, Tibor, Bartlett, Gillian, Grad, Roland M, Granikov, Vera, Barwick, Melanie, Doray, Geneviève, Lagarde, François, Loignon, Christine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assimilation; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Confidence; Consumer health information; Decision making; Female; Health information; Humans; Income; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Information needs; Information sources; Internet; Internet - standards; Longitudinal Studies; Low income groups; Male; Mixed methods research; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Narratives; Original Paper; Parenting - trends; Parents & parenting; Policy making; Social Class; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; Websites; Well being
• ISSN: 1438-8871; 1439-4456; 1438-8871
• DOI: 10.2196/22440

Typically, web-based consumer health information is considered more beneficial for people with high levels of education and income. No evidence shows that equity-oriented information offers equal benefits to all. This is important for parents of low socioeconomic status (SES; low levels of education and income and usually a low level of literacy). This study is based on a conceptual framework of information outcomes. In light of this, it aims to compare the perception of the outcomes of web-based parenting information in low-SES mothers with that of other mothers and explore the perspective of low-SES mothers on contextual factors and information needs and behavior associated with these outcomes. A participatory mixed methods research was conducted in partnership with academic researchers and Naître et grandir (N&G) editors. N&G is a magazine, website, and newsletter that offers trustworthy parenting information on child development, education, health, and well-being in a format that is easy to read, listen, or watch. Quantitative component (QUAN) included a 3-year longitudinal observational web survey; participants were mothers of 0- to 8-year-old children. For each N&G newsletter, the participants' perception regarding the outcomes of specific N&G webpages was gathered using a content-validated Information Assessment Method (IAM) questionnaire. Differences between participants of low SES versus others were estimated. Qualitative component (QUAL) was interpretive; participants were low-SES mothers. The thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified participants' characteristics and different sources of information depending on information needs. Findings from the two components were integrated (QUAN+QUAL integration) through the conceptual framework and assimilated into the description of an ideal-typical mother of low SES (Kate). A narrative describes Kate's perception of the outcomes of web-based parenting information and her perspective on contextual factors, information needs, and behavior associated with these outcomes. QUAN-a total of 1889 participants completed 2447 IAM responses (50 from mothers of low SES and 2397 from other mothers). N&G information was more likely to help low-SES participants to better understand something, decrease worries, and increase self-confidence in decision making. QUAL-the 40 participants (21 N&G users and 19 nonusers) used 4 information sources in an iterative manner: websites, forums, relatives, and profession