Pregnant women’s navigation of information on everyday household chemicals: phthalates as a case study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12884-015-0748-0
• Publication Date: 2015-11-25T15:26:06Z
• Authors: Justin M. Ashley; Alexandra Hodgson; Sapna Sharma; Jeff Nisker
• Keywords: Ontario; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Consumer Health Information; Pregnant women; Information Seeking Behavior; Phthalic Acids; 610; Household Products; Prenatal Care; Navigating risk; 01 natural sciences; 3. Good health; Interviews as Topic; Phthalates; Maternal Exposure; Pregnancy; Household chemicals; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Humans; Female; Research Article; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Current developments in science and the media have now placed pregnant women a precarious situation as they are charged with responsibility to navigate through information sources make best decisions for her pregnancy. Yet little is known regarding how want receive use health general, let alone uncertain risks pregnancy everyday household products such phthalates found cosmetics canned food liners. Using an example, this study investigated obtain, evaluate, act on their Pregnant were recruited using pamphlets posters distributed prenatal clinics, fairs physician offices Southwestern Ontario Canada. Research participants engaged 20 40 min semi-structured interviews of pregnancy, particularly Interviews transcribed verbatim analyzed constructivist grounded theory techniques supported by NVivo 9™ software. Theoretical sufficiency was reached after 23 interviewed transcripts analyzed. Three overlapping themes resulted from co-constructed analysis: I-Strength Information Sources; II-Value Modifiers; III-Deciding Control Exposure. The research reported receiving wide range that perceived varying strength or believability. They then described strategies employed increase validity message order avoid risk exposure. preferred strong source physician, government but frequently used weak internet opinions friends. A model developed relationship between describes multiple available them. Our provides insight into receive, appraise, chemicals. Clinicians professional organizations should produce specific educational materials assist understanding exposure