THE INFLUENCE OF THE INTERNET ON PRENATAL AND CHILDBIRTH CHOICES OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN A CITY IN WESTERN PARANÁ

Abstract

The use of the internet to seek information with the goal of gaining knowledge about health is quite common. Currently, pregnant women turn to this convenience to access various information about pregnancy, possible childbirth-related questions, symptoms, and treatments. They use various websites and sources to acquire this knowledge, but not all information available on the internet is reliable and suitable to follow. Objective: To identify the factors that influence decisions during pregnancy, trust in internet information, the sources they use, and whether it interferes with their relationship with healthcare professionals. Methodology: This is a quantitative and qualitative study with data collection through in-person questionnaires, involving 46 pregnant women from a hospital in a city in western Paraná. Results: 65.2% of the participants stated that internet research influenced their opinion and how they approached pregnancy and childbirth, and 73.91% reported that the internet did not change the relationship they had with their healthcare professional. Conclusion: Prenatal care is an important period, and the relationship between healthcare professionals and patients impacts this time, as they seek out more information, highlighting the importance of care. Additionally, the internet was shown to be influential for pregnant women and postpartum individuals.