Navigating Pregnancy Online: An Integrative Review of Online Information-Seeking Behavior and Its Impact on Maternal Decision-Making

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Keywords

fsc2026

Abstract

Pregnant women are turning to the internet to answer pregnancy related concerns and guide their decision-making during pregnancy. However, relying on the internet for healthcare decisions is not ideal as online information may be inaccurate, misleading, and lack individualized medical guidance. Understanding the online seeking behaviors of pregnant women will allow healthcare providers to better educate patients on where to seek trustworthy online information, allowing women to make safe and informed decisions about their pregnancy. The purpose of this integrative review is to describe online health information seeking behaviors among pregnant women in the United States. A systematic literature search was conducted using three databases: APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Ultimate, and PubMed. Keyword search terms included: pregnancy, information seeking behavior, health information seeking, internet, and online. Inclusion criteria included studies conducted within the United States and primary research that analyzed online information-seeking behavior of pregnant women. Eight articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. Data extraction and analysis was conducted using the Whittemore and Knafl integrative review methodology. Three themes emerged including maternal health-seeking behaviors, barriers to accessing trustworthy online information, and unmet information needs during prenatal care. Many women use digital platforms to guide their healthcare decisions; misinformation can lead to unsafe health decisions. Low digital literacy restricts women from accessing reputable online information sources. Finally, unmet information needs from healthcare personnel leads women to search for answers regarding their health and their offspring’s health.  More digital health literacy education is needed for pregnant women regarding trustworthy online information. Future policy changes to support improving digital health literacy are vital to create the safest pregnancies. Future research may focus on developing and evaluating reliable, evidence-based online resources that address the diverse informational needs of pregnant women.

Comments

Poster presented at the 2026 Fisher Showcase, St. John Fisher University, April 17, 2026.

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