Defining “critical” maternal health information for healthy lifestyle self-management in pregnancy: perspectives of pregnant women and obstetricians in China and Malaysia

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a critical window for adopting and sustaining healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study explored perspectives of pregnant women and obstetricians on key lifestyle domains, barriers, and support needs during pregnancy in China and Malaysia. Methods: A qualitative in-depth interview study was conducted from October 2023 to February 2024. Pregnant women were recruited from two antenatal clinics in China and one general hospital in Malaysia. Obstetricians involved in routine antenatal care were also interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Results: Twenty pregnant/postpartum women and six obstetricians participated. Four integrated themes from pregnant women described “critical” maternal health information as: (1) bonding-oriented interpretability that motivates health behaviors, (2) lifestyle self-management under uncertainty requiring safety boundaries and red-flag clarity, (3) social support as psychosocial coping infrastructure, and (4) digital information appraisal in partnership with clinicians. Three complementary themes from obstetricians emphasized time-pressured clinical encounters shaping communication and trust, ethically/institutionally mediated disclosure practices, and a contested digital information ecology in which digital tools may support continuity while raising credibility concerns. Conclusions: Pregnant women and obstetricians highlighted multi-domain lifestyle support needs that extend beyond clinical check-ups. Strengthening credible information access and tailored professional guidance may facilitate healthier lifestyle practices during pregnancy across contexts.