Pro-environmental health behaviour and educational needs among pregnant women: A cross-sectional survey

To investigate pro-environmental health perceptions, behaviour and educational needs among pregnant women in Korea.

Based on concerns about the effects of environmental hazards and pollution on their babies and themselves, pregnant women behave in ways that protect their health. The framework of this study was based on Rogers' protection motivation theory.

Cross-sectional survey using questionnaires.

The sample comprised 358 pregnant women recruited from July - August 2018 in South Korea. Participants were recruited from prenatal classes at two healthcare centres and patients receiving prenatal check-ups at two women's hospitals.

Perceived educational needs were ranked in the following order: particulate matter (23.7%), electromagnetic waves (11.7%), instant food (food additives) (9.0%) and environmental hormones (8.3%). Age (β = 0.17, p = .001), perceived severity (β = 0.19, p = .001) and response efficacy (β = 0.28, p < .001) affected pro-environmental behaviour, which explained 23.0% of the variance.

Educational programs are necessary for mitigating environmental risks during pregnancy. Pregnant women engage in pro-environmental behaviour influenced by pro-environmental perceptions, especially perceptions of severity regarding environmental diseases and the efficacy of health behavioural responses. Nursing professionals can use these results to promote pro-environmental health in pregnant women.

This study demonstrated that pregnant women need environmental health programs in prenatal education. Pro-environmental perceptions regarding the severity of the environmental diseases and behavioural efficacy preceded the formation of environmental health behaviours. Nurses should support pregnant women's environmental health through educational interventions including air, electromagnetic, food pollution and endocrine disruptors.