Internet as a source of information and health literacy in pregnancy: a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction The social reconfigurations of the last few decades have changed the role of women in society, moving them away from the extended family and reducing their time to build supportive relationships, essential factors of informal support during the transition to parenthood. This new reality led to the emergence of alternative informal sources of support, namely the internet, currently constituting one of the main sources of health information for pregnant women. However, it is not enough to have access to online information to know how to apply in health decisions, it is also necessary to evaluate, understand and interpret it, that is, it is necessary to have health literacy. Objective Map the existing literature on the relationship between the internet as a source of information and the level of health literacy of pregnant women. Methods Population: pregnant women; concept: health literacy; context: internet. Primary and secondary sources of qualitative and quantitative research were considered, as well as unpublished literature, as master's dissertations. Research in three stages according to the JBI methodology, using the databases Medline, CINHAL, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal. Considered articles published since 2015, in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French. Data extraction and analysis performed in a table elaborated according to the JBI methodology, 2020. Results 13 articles were included. Pregnant women with a higher level of health literacy conduct more online health research, resorting more to formal sources and discussing the information accessed with health professionals. Pregnant women with a lower level of health literacy have more difficulties in understanding, evaluating and applying the information accessed online, resorting more to sources such as blogs and social networks. Conclusion The level of health literacy of pregnant women has a decisive influence on the use of the internet as a source of health information, being positively related to greater frequency of use, recurrence to formal sources and discussion of the information accessed with health professionals. In contrast, a lower level of health literacy is associated with greater difficulty in evaluating and understanding the information accessed, requiring support from health professionals. The level of health literacy of pregnant women should be considered for a personalized recommendation of valid and reliable online information.