“Paper, face-to-face and on my mobile please”: A survey of women’s preferred methods of receiving antenatal education

• Published in: Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives 2021-11, Vol.34 (6), p.e547-e556
• Main Authors: Wright, Annette, Elcombe, Emma, Burns, Elaine S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antenatal education; Nursing; Online survey; Postnatal; Pregnant women; Smartphone app
• ISSN: 1871-5192; 1878-1799
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.10.014

Antenatal education prepares women for childbirth and can be delivered face-to-face, in hard-copy and electronically. Smartphones allow access to online learning and internet searching is common among pregnant women. It is unclear which mode of health information delivery women prefer. This study aimed to investigate how women at one Local Health District (LHD) preferred to receive health information during pregnancy and the early postnatal period. We developed a survey to gather data on women’s preferences for educational information. Women who were discharged from one LHD, in NSW Australia, were invited, in 2019, to participate in a simple 14 question survey, either online or in hard copy format. In total, 685 women completed the survey which represented a 40% response rate over a period of two months. The survey revealed women commonly used smart phones, or other devices, to source information. Despite this, most women preferred to receive antenatal education via non-electronic methods. Of note many participants felt underprepared for the post-birth period. The method of survey completion, whether hardcopy or online, aligned with individuals’ preferences for information delivery. Non-electronic methods of education delivery were the preferred method for most women, and this was consistent across all educational, cultural and socioeconomic levels. Women sought information online, or through apps, but these options did not always meet their knowledge needs, especially regarding the postnatal period. We recommend that hospitals continue to provide information in a variety of modes, as exclusively electronic methods may marginalise groups of women.