Accessing Online Health-related Information by Parents of Children with Neurologic Disorders in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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dc.contributor.authorWonodi, Wen_US
dc.contributor.authorOkari, TGen_US
dc.contributor.authorOtokunefor, O.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-13T09:08:24Z
dc.date.available2025-08-13T09:08:24Z
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.description.abstractBackground: Parental use of online search engines to get information about their children’s illnesses is a common practice in developed countries. This online search is becoming part of our society, especially in the face of chronic disorders. Objectives: This study was undertaken to ascertain the proportion of parents of children with neurological disorders browsing the internet for medical information and factors associated with this behaviour. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in the paediatric neurology clinic of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, where 106 child-parent pairs were consecutively recruited. A questionnaire was used to collect information on biodata and their use of the internet to access information on their children’s diseases. Data was analysed with SPSS 23, with statistical significance set at P value < 0.05. Results: The mean ages of the children, mothers and fathers were 5.5±4.6 years, 37.2±6.9 years and 44.6±6.9 years respectively. Most mothers (63.2%) and fathers (61.3%) had attained tertiary education and were of middle socioeconomic class. Of the 54(50.9%) parents who had browsed the internet, 49(90.7%) used Google, and 50(92.6%) browsed with their phones. Among those who searched for information online, only 11(20.4%) discussed such information with a physician. Tertiary education among parents and middle socioeconomic status were significantly associated with browsing the internet. Conclusion: A good proportion (50.4%) of educated parents are browsing the internet for more medical information on their children’s illnesses but few are verifying such information with physicians. There is therefore a need to counsel parents on the proper websites to get accurate information.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeriaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeriaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeriaen_US
dc.identifier.citationWonodi W, Okari TG, Otokunefor O.. Accessing Online Health-related Information by Parents of Children with Neurologic Disorders in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health. 2025 Mar; 46(4): 92-100en_US
dc.identifier.issn2278-1005
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/251264
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherMs. M. B. Mondalen_US
dc.relation.issuenumber4en_US
dc.relation.volume46en_US
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.9734/ijtdh/2025/v46i41647en_US
dc.subjectCounselen_US
dc.subjectneurologic disordersen_US
dc.subjectpaediatric parentsen_US
dc.subjectphysicianen_US
dc.titleAccessing Online Health-related Information by Parents of Children with Neurologic Disorders in Port Harcourt, Nigeriaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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