Information needs during pregnancy from women’s perspective. With regards to cultural differences

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy is a life-changing experience that is accompanied by many psychological and physical changes. The importance and life-altering effects of this stage in women’s lives, also put special demands on the information they might want and need. Further, there are differences in what information is readily available through various health systems, both culturally and through pregnancy care models adopted by the given systems. Therefore, this project aims to capture women’s experience and find out if the cultural aspects of the women’s residual area can affect their needs and decisions. Methodology: This study employed both an online survey and interview as data collection tools. The survey questionnaire was distributed online through Facebook pregnancy-related groups. In addition, face-to-face interviews were conducted in Norway and Iran. There were 15 interviewees recruited in total, with the ratio of 9 in Iran and 6 in Norway. Results: Findings of this study indicate a strong effect of cultural values on one’s preference and decisions. It also highlights the importance of a communicative relationship between the physicians and the patients. Conclusion: From the results of this study it can be concluded that in order to understand ones’ needs, the cultural perspective of that society should be considered. The cultural values constantly influenced one’s decision making and behaviour. Therefore, understanding this factor can be of utmost importance especially in multicultural societies’ health system.