Journal article
Knowing your audience: Investigating stillbirth knowledge and perceptions in the general population to inform future public health campaigns
Women and Birth, Vol.35(4), pp.e389-e396
2021
Abstract
Background
The prevalence of stillbirth in many high income countries like Australia has remained unchanged for over 30 years. The 2018 Australian government Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education highlighted the need for a public health campaign to encourage public conversations and increase awareness. However, there is little evidence about the community’s knowledge and perceptions towards pregnancy and stillbirth, nor their aspirations for a public health campaign.
Aims
To assess the general knowledge, perceptions, myths and attitudes towards stillbirth to inform future public health campaigns.
Methods
Australian participants (n = 344; predominately women n = 294 (85.5%)) were recruited via Facebook.com. They completed a cross-sectional online survey designed to assess their knowledge of pregnancy and stillbirth, with additional questions on socio-demographic characteristics.
Results
Stillbirth knowledge and awareness of incidence was low in this sample. Prominent myths, such as baby runs out of room in the uterus (n = 112, 33%) and baby slows down when preparing for labour (n = 24, 27%) were endorsed. Only 25% (n = 85) knew the prevalence of stillbirth in Australia (six per day). Almost two-thirds (n = 205; 62%) agreed that there needs to be a public health campaign, however one in five (n = 65; 20%) were concerned that talking about stillbirth with pregnant women may cause them to worry.
Discussion and conclusion
Our findings reinforce the need for a targeted campaign, which educates the general population about the definition and prevalence of stillbirth, stillbirth risks and modifiable health behaviours. Appropriate messaging should target pregnant women during antenatal care as well as their support and care systems (family, friends, and care providers).
Details
- Title
- Knowing your audience: Investigating stillbirth knowledge and perceptions in the general population to inform future public health campaigns
- Authors/Creators
- D Pollock (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideC.C.J. Shepherd (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaA.A. Adane (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityC. Foord (Author/Creator) - Aware (United States)B.M. Farrant (Author/Creator) - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaJ. Warland (Author/Creator) - Curtin University
- Publication Details
- Women and Birth, Vol.35(4), pp.e389-e396
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Identifiers
- 991005544000507891
- Copyright
- © 2021 Australian College of Midwives.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Ngangk Yira Aboriginal Health Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
45 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.72 Obstetrics & Gynecology
- 1.72.922 Neonatal Hypoxia Effects
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine