Public library services for pregnant women: A scoping review

Document Type : Scoping Review

Authors
Mohammad Zarei 1
Atefeh Zarei 2
Vahideh Zare- Gavgani 3
Firoozeh Zare Farashbandi 4
1 Ph.D Student of Medical and Information Sciences, Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information science, Islamic Azad University,Hamedan Branch, Hamedan, Iran
3 Professor, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Medical Library and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.48305/him.2025.45817.1351
Abstract
Introduction: Nowadays, information technologies have had a great impact on the way public libraries provide services to their users. The aim of the research is to identify the types of public library services and how these services are provided to pregnant women as specific library users.

Methodology: The present study is a scoping review. English and Persian databases were searched to identify relevant studies. All qualitative and quantitative studies that were relevant to the research objectives were reviewed until the end 20 May 2024. After screening and based on the above inclusion and exclusion criteria, the research sample was 14 final articles that entered the analysis stage.

Findings: A review of the sources revealed three main categories for the types of public library services to pregnant women, including information services, health services, and counseling services. Internet services, information, sharing health reference databases, and providing general health journals were among the information services, and health and mental health were among the health services. Also, strategic participation of public libraries in information planning, cultural counseling, and health counseling were among the counseling services of public libraries to pregnant women. These services were provided in two ways: face-to-face, such as reference services, and offline, such as training in health information retrieval skills.

Conclusion: Identifying the services of public libraries and their potential capacities in the field of health can help improve the health and well-being of society, including pregnant women. Achieving this requires greater interaction between health organizations and institutions and public libraries.

Keywords

Subjects

1. Liu LG. The Internet and library and information services: A review, analysis, and annotated bibliography. Occasional papers (University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign Graduate School of Library and Informaiton Science); no 202. 1995.
2. Karki M, El Asmar ML, Sasco ER, El-Osta A. Public libraries to promote public health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of communitydwelling adults. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1226.
3. Ilo P, Ifijeh G, Segun-Adeniran C, Michael-Onuoha HC, Ekwueme L. Providing reproductive health information to rural women: The potentials of
public libraries. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2021;25(5s):210-8.
4. Kahouei M, Babamohammadi H, Panahi S, Mehdizadeh J. A survey on barriers to access health information resources of nursing care from the
perspectives of nurses and nursing students. 2012.
5. Zare-farashbandi F A-rH, Shahrzadi, L PA. Information therapy research center. Health Information Management. 2010;9(4):445-7.
6. Zeinali V, Riahinia N. Information therapy services in educational hospitals: a feasibility study in educational hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University
of Medical Sciences. 2015.
7. Lobo S, Lucas CJ, Herbert JS, Townsend ML, Smith M, Kunkler E, et al. Nutrition information in pregnancy: Where do women seek advice and
has this changed over time? Nutrition & Dietetics. 2020;77(3):382-91.
8. Zager S, Haskins A, Maland K, Holt C. The health and libraries of public use retrospective study (HeLPURS). Health Information & Libraries
Journal. 2016;33(3):190-203.
9. Peterson M. Designing a feminist city: Public libraries as a women’s space. Geoforum. 2024;150:103971.
10. Bakar ABA. Information seeking behaviours of rural women in Malaysia. Library Philosophy and Practice. 2011;2011:461-8.
11. Vogels-Broeke M, Daemers D, Budé L, de Vries R, Nieuwenhuijze M. Sources of information used by women during pregnancy and the perceived
quality. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2022;22(1):109.
12. Ezeabasili AC. Health information needs and risk health behaviors of pregnant women in Anambra State, Nigeria. J Med Libr Inf Sci. 2024;5:e51.
13. Daly LM, Horey D, Middleton PF, Boyle FM, Flenady V. The effect of mobile application interventions on influencing healthy maternal behaviour
and improving perinatal health outcomes: a systematic review protocol. Systematic reviews. 2017;6:1-8.
14. AlGhamdi KM, Moussa NA. Internet use by the public to search for health-related information. International journal of medical informatics.
2012;81(6):363-73.
15. Sun Y, Zhang Y, Gwizdka J, Trace CB. Consumer evaluation of the quality of online health information: systematic literature review of relevant
criteria and indicators. Journal of medical Internet research. 2019;21(5):e12522.
16. Tabibifard H, Khani H, Sobhani R, Ghorbani A, Portaha M, Mehrabi A, et al. Report on the experience of improving mothers information by creating
a small library in the maternity room or small books related to pregnancy, health, family planning and healthy children. Conference on business and
optimal functions of the primary health care system (The second national conference and the first international conference); Tehran2012.
17. Ashrafi-Rezi H, Shahrzadi L. Family health specialized libraries: Necessity and functions. Health Management. 2017;68(2):7-10.
18. Evans K, Donelan J, Rennick-Egglestone S, Cox S, Kuipers Y. Review of mobile apps for women with anxiety in pregnancy: Maternity care
professionals’ guide to locating and assessing anxiety apps. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2022;24(3):e31831.
19. Smith CA, Hundal S, Keselman A. Knowledge gaps among public librarians seeking vaccination information: a qualitative study. Journal of
Consumer Health on the Internet. 2014;18(1):44-66.
20. Andalib kandari M, Nakhoda M, Esmaili givi M. Designing a service delivery model based on health information in public libraries in Tehran.
Infromation Research and Public Libraries. 2022;28(4):466-80.
21. Gabasa P, Oyedum G, Babalola G. Assessment of Role of Medical Librarians on Pregnant Women Utilisation of Health Information Resources in
Federal Universities in Northern Nigeria Paraya Gabasa Department of Library and Information Technology Federal University of Technology
Minna, Niger State. Journal of Information Resource. 2019;2(1):1-8.
22. Hall K, McAlister S. Library services and resources in support of mental health: a survey of initiatives in public and academic libraries. Journal of
Library Administration. 2021;61(8):936-46.
23. Dervin B, Harpring JE, Foreman-Wernet L. In moments of concern: A sense-making study of pregnant, drug-addicted women and their information
needs. The Electronic Journal of Communication. 1999;9(2):3.
24. Ezema IJ. Reproductive health information needs and access among rural women in Nigeria: A study of Nsukka Zone in Enugu State. The African
Journal of Information and Communication. 2016;2016(18):117-33.
کتابخانههای عمومی و زنان باردار
114 مدیریت اطالعات سالمت/ دوره بیست و دوم / شماره دوم / تابستان 1404
25. Ntlotlang T, Grand B. The role of libraries in the dissemination of health information in Botswana: A study of Mochudi and Molepolole public
libraries. Library Review. 2016;65(4/5):320-49.
26. Elia H. Public libraries supporting health and wellness: A literature review. School of information student research journal. 2019;9(2):7.
27. Salem NMB, editor Public Libraries Role in Promoting Health Awareness in Sultanate of Oman. International Conference on Chemical,
Agricultural, Biological and Health Sciences; 2017.
28. Oh S, Noh Y. Online health information in South Korean public libraries: Developing evaluation criteria. Library & Information Science Research.
2013;35(1):78-84.
29. Andalib Kondori M, Nakhoda M, Esmaeili Givi M. Designing health information services model in Tehran’s public libraries. Research on
Information Science and Public Libraries. 2022;28(4):466-80.
30. Moslemi M, Farajpour M. Examining the status of information seeking and informing librarians of public libraries about health information case
study Western Azerbaijan province. uarterly of Information Management Sciences and Techniques. 2017;3(1):31-58.
31. Khosravi A, Mahmoodi N, Basirian Jahromi R, Hajivandi A. A new approach to public libraries in providing health information services: A case
study of public libraries located in Bushehr. Lib and Inf Sci Res. 2018;7(2):23-40.
32. Jolahi L, Babalhavaeji F, Hariri N. ncreasing community health by setting up medical and health information services department in public libraries:
Qualitative approach. ualitative approach Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017;5(2):9-19.
33. Aminpour F. Is realizing the ideal of “health information for every one by 2015“ possible. Health information management. 2006;2(1):12-28.
34. Institute JB. Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual. Reviews MfJS, editor. Australia: The Joanna Briggs Institute; 2015.
35. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, PRISMA Group* t. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA
statement. Annals of internal medicine. 2009;151(4):264-9.
36. Witkin LJ. Mothers' Discussion Groups in Public Libraries. Social Work. 1976;21(6).
37. Mayer L. Women, democracy and participation in the Information Society. IFLA publications. 2003;106:131-6.
38. Mehra B, Jaber BS. Women's concerns in Alabama's public libraries: An exploratory website content analysis of illustrative information support
services. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology. 2020;57(1):e257.
39. Adisso EL, Borde V, Saint-Hilaire M-È, Robitaille H, Archambault P, Blais J, et al. Can patients be trained to expect shared decision making in
clinical consultations? Feasibility study of a public library program to raise patient awareness. PloS one. 2018;13(12):e0208449.
40. Hamzehei R, Kazerani M, Shekofteh M, Karami M. Online health information seeking behavior among Iranian pregnant women: A case study.
Library Philosophy and Practice. 2018;1659.
41. Joulahi L, Babalhavaeji F, Hariri N. Health promotion by setting up medical and health information services in public libraries: A qualitative
approach. J Rehab Med. 2016;5(2):9-19.
42. Khosravi A, Mahmodi N, Basirian Jahromi R, Hajivandi A. New approach to public libraries in providing health information services: Case study
of public libraries in Bushehr province. Library and Information Science Research. 2017;14(7):23-40.
43. Khajeali Jahantighi Z, Omidkhoda M. Identifying health-based services in Iranian Public Libraries during the Corona Crisis (Corona and PostCorona era): Public health information system. Journal of Studies in Library and Information Science. 2022;14(Special Issue: COVID-19):54-72.
Health Information Management
Volume 22, Issue 2
Summer 2025
Pages 106-115