What do women want to know after childbirth?
BACKGROUND
Postpartum women have demonstrated a variety of health care concerns. This study, conducted in Washington state in 1991, investigated predictors of primiparas' and multiparas' desire to receive more information about 18 self-care and baby care topics at 7 weeks postpartum in relation to prenatal class attendance, short postpartum hospital stay, and other variables.


METHODS
Data from 1161 women who completed a survey were analyzed. Percentages of women desiring more information on each topic were calculated stratified by parity; mean numbers of chosen health topics were calculated in relation to prenatal education, length of postpartum hospitalization, maternal age, education, social support, and type of delivery; and association between desire for more information on specific topics and length of postpartum hospitalization, maternal age, maternal education, and social support were calculated.


RESULTS
Over three-fourths of women wanted more information on at least one topic, and the highest percentage wanted more information on exercise, diet, and nutrition; getting along with their other children; and recognizing infant illness. Primiparas and multiparas who desired more information were under 25 years of age and had low levels of social support; in addition, multiparas with unmet information needs had low education and short postpartum stays. Prenatal education was unrelated to postpartum desire for more information.


CONCLUSIONS
Most postpartum women want self-care and baby care information, a need that is not completely met by prenatal or postpartum education. Postpartum follow-up programs with a strong educational component and special targeting of high-risk women may enable health caregivers to better address this need.
Moran
C F
CF
Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Bellevue, Washington, USA.
Holt
V L
VL
Martin
D P
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010298:Parity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014861:Washington