BARRIERS TO HEALTH INFORMATION-SEEKING BEHAVIORS WITHIN PREGNANT WOMEN IN HANOI OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY HOSPITAL IN 2023

Health information-seeking behaviors are critical for enabling pregnant women to make informed decisions that safeguard both their health and that of their babies. However, these behaviors are often hindered by various obstacles. Investigating these barriers is essential for developing interventions that enhance women's ability to protect, prevent, and manage their health. Such efforts can ultimately improve the overall well-being of women and their infants. Notably, there is limited information in Vietnam. Aims to describe the barriers to health information-seeking behavior among pregnant women in Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in 2023. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 with 191 women visiting Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Various personal and external environmental barriers hinder information-seeking behavior among women. The most significant barrier reported was worrying about the overwhelming amount of information (33%), following the barriers related to affordability and availability of counseling healthcare (30,9% and 17.3%). Furthermore, women with lower educational attainment encountered exacerbated difficulties related to geographical distance, communication barriers with healthcare professionals, insufficient support for transportation to medical appointments, and the lack of available counseling centers.These findings highlight the need to enhance social support and healthcare services to mitigate these barriers and particularly emphasize the need for targeted support for women with lower education levels. Enhancing support in the area can significantly improve their capacity for self-care, prevention, and overall health, benefitting both themselves and their families