Pregnancy-Related Information Seeking and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women at Public Health Facilities in Debre Tabor City Administration, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Pregnant women need health information to engage in preventive health behaviors, improve self-care, and reduce anxiety. Lack of information about pregnancy-related complications is a challenge. Seeking health information reduces risk factors and raises awareness for future outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess pregnancy-related information-seeking and associated factors among pregnant women in Debre Tabor City Administration health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among pregnant women in Debre Tabor City Administration health facilities from May to July 2022, with 423 participants using a census method. Data was collected using an interviewer-based questionnaire, and analysis was performed using Epi Info 7.2 and SPSS version 26. Factors associated with pregnancy-related information seeking were assessed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models RESULTS The proportion of pregnancy-related information seeking among pregnant women was 52.7% (48.2, 57.5). The mean age of the study participants was 28.29 ± 4.96 SD years and 59.3% of pregnant women were urban residents. Place of residence (AOR=2.08, CI=1.2, 3.59), Occupation (AOR=3.03, CI=1.46, 6.27), digital literacy (AOR=1.74, CI=1.01, 2.99), self-efficacy (AOR= 6.59, CI=3.88, 11.17), perceive severity to pregnancy-related complication (AOR=3.67, CI=2.16, 6.23) were significant factors associated with pregnancy-related information seeking. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy-related information seeking among pregnant women was found to be low. An increasing level of digital literacy and awareness of pregnancy-related complications could improve PRI seeking of pregnant women.