impact of social media on women's choices in pregnancy and birth

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS INFLUENCING THE CHOICES WOMEN MAKE DURING

THE CHILDBIRTH CONTINUUM

Sarah Stewart 2012sarahstewart07@gmail.com

@SarahStewart

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54258032@N00/309441638

8 out of 10 people have looked up health information on the internet

Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2011

96% Australians look on the Internet for information on their symptoms

before they go to a doctor Bendall 2012

83% women go online to look for health information

Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79576592@N00/125710155

19% of internet users look online

for information about pregnancy

and childbirthPew Internet and American Life Project, 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819968@N00/12390581

Canada 37% babies have digital identity before they are born

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124425616@N01/2282360160

Dawson, 2010

Australia/NZ 41% newborns on the net

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124425616@N01/2634681982

Dawson, 2010

USA 92% children have online presence by 2 years old

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86603835@N00/19650368

Dawson, 2010

What is social media?

“web-based and mobile technologies that turn communication into interactive dialogue”

Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73532212@N00/2945559128

33% American use social media in

relation to health issues PwC Health Research Institute 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26667277@N00/329534159

Parents talk about childbirth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niJ6F2p9Ql8&feature=fvst

They broadcast their births

They share information and advice

http://www.facebook.com/MidwiferyToday

They support each other

They build communities of interest

http://www.facebook.com/delayedcordclamping

They have virtual births

They become activists

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-HBAC-in-Australia-fan-page/239430759403371

They talk about health care professionals

What are the implications for

health professionals?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819968@N00/2925293661

Women want flexible communication, but aren't getting it with health professionals

Dallas Knight 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/296372880

Women want to feel their

communication needs are being met, but health

professionals are ignoring this

Dallas Knight 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21353838@N06/2681841205

Women feeling uninformed by health professionals, which affects their

ability to make choices & decisions about their care Dallas Kinght 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77476789@N00/2201907500

Challenge: Did you know there is no mention of Australian midwifery on Wikipedia?Did you know most information about obstetrics is from American perspective?

Infrequent antenatal visits & constant need for information

triggered use of Internet Lagan, Sinclair & Kernohan 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8566600@N07/2801690057

Women are a lot more informed & wish to be treated as partners in

decision-making process Lagan, Sinclair & Kernohan 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34120957@N04/6870109454

Balance of power between health professional and “patient” is shifting

Lagan, Sinclair & Kernohan 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73621375@N00/1132365

What should health professionals do?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74821452@N00/208439427

Keep up to date with the communication changes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25159380@N00/3649349353

Listen to what women are saying

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29195126@N02/4872728620

Join the conversation

Use social media to share evidence-based, quality information

with women

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50318388@N00/1309683996

Support women to make sense of information they find on the internet

Work in partnership with women to support decision-making

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74637221@N00/3109380557

Sarah Stewart

sarahstewart07@gmail.com

Twitter: @SarahStewart

http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/sarahmstewart

http://www.slideshare.net/sarahs