Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to explore the information needs and sources for health-related information among pregnant women in Tamale Metropolis. A Mixed method approach was used to carry out the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 148 pregnant women from three hospitals namely, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale West Hospital and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, interviews were conducted with three midwives, one from each hospital and a Gynecologist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The findings of the study revealed that antenatal lessons were the most used sources of health information, and the least were newspapers and popular magazines. The information needs of pregnant women include a healthy baby and medication among others. The most highly rated need was having a healthy baby and the least was an on-sex relationship. The study recommends that the management of the hospitals set aside an office to be manned by a midwife at the entrance of every antenatal clinic where the midwife would be solely in charge of consultation on health information provision. Also, the government must pay more attention to the free maternal health policy to enhance access to quality healthcare.