Doctor Google: Use of Internet during pregnancy in France in 2009

Objectives. - To determine the profile of pregnant women who use Internet during pregnancy as well as their motivations. Patients and methods. - We conducted a transversal prospective survey with questionnaires distributed to women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period in a regional hospital in the Yvelines from July 13th to November 28th, 2009. The same questionnaire was posted for pregnant women on Internet websites and forums dedicated to pregnancy from October 1st, 2009 to January 6th, 2010. Qualitative variables were compared by Chi(2) or Fisher tests. Results. - We obtained 791 answers, with 83 and 97% using Internet during pregnancy in the hospital and on-line population respectively. Their motivations to use Internet are the easy access (85% of the population, n=606) and the anonymity afforded by this media (49.1%, n=351). The profile of the patient using Internet was: primiparous, less than 35 years, higher education and having a profession. The most popular information searched was on the delivery (49.1%). Conclusion. - The population using Internet during pregnancy seems homogeneous and represented by young, educated, and working women. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.