Introduction:
With the rise of social media usage worldwide, more people are turning to online platforms for health-related information. However, most research on pregnancy-related discussions in social media has focused on high-income countries, leaving a gap in understanding how women in lower-income regions like Ghana navigate pregnancy through digital spaces. Our latest study, published in Frontiers in Digital Health, analyzes social media discussions among Ghanaian women to identify key concerns and information-seeking behaviors during pregnancy.
Methodology:
We applied machine learning techniques to analyze over 3,300 posts from the Midwife Sally Pregnancy School Facebook group, a Ghana-based online community providing antenatal and postpartum support. By leveraging Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) modeling, we identified seven major topics dominating pregnancy discussions.
Key findings:
Our study categorized discussions into the following themes:
-
Pregnancy Concerns: Women frequently sought advice on physiological changes, exercise, pain relief, medication, and mental health, with some posts referencing depression and anxiety.
-
Delivery: Discussions revolved around vaginal and C-section deliveries, emergency situations, and postpartum recovery, with many women sharing birth stories and thanking the community for support.
-
Pain Management: Many women reported abdominal, waist, and pelvic pain, with discussions on exercise, medication, and alternative remedies for relief.
-
Breastfeeding: Concerns included breast milk production, challenges after C-sections, and traditional remedies to increase milk supply.
-
Water Consumption & Infant Care: Topics included the safety of drinking cold water during pregnancy and the use of gripe water for newborns.
-
Sleeping Issues: Women discussed sleep difficulties, safe sleeping positions, and the role of exercise in improving rest.
-
Antenatal Care: Discussions included hospital selection, fetal growth monitoring, and concerns about medical conditions like proteinuria and high blood pressure.
Emotional Trends
Our sentiment analysis revealed:
-
43.4% Neutral Sentiments – Mostly information-seeking posts.
-
46.4% Negative Sentiments – Anxiety about pregnancy complications, pain, and inadequate healthcare access.
-
10.2% Positive Sentiments – Celebratory posts about safe deliveries and successful breastfeeding experiences.
Conclusion:
The study highlights that social media serves as an essential source of support and education for pregnant women in Ghana. Discussions about mental health, exercise, and cultural approaches to breastfeeding suggest a growing awareness of both modern and traditional healthcare practices. Additionally, social media platforms can help bridge healthcare gaps by providing timely, peer-supported guidance.
This research provides valuable insights into how social media can be leveraged to support maternal health in Ghana and other resource-limited settings. Future interventions can use these findings to create targeted educational campaigns, improve digital health tools, and develop culturally sensitive pregnancy support programs.
Read full article from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1479392/full