After eight months of marriage, Rana, a young Jordanian living in Amman, discovered she was pregnant. She had just started her second year at university.
“I wasn’t ready for this step. I cried non-stop during exam periods because of stress and mood swings caused by pregnancy. I was drained and exhausted. I resorted to social media platforms for pregnancy information, and I delayed visiting my physician in fear that he would mock or belittle my feelings.”
When pregnant, women experience psychological and physiological changes that may prompt them to seek the internet for explanations. Online information is easily-accessible and affordable, especially as it is possible to visit pages that claim to provide accurate information or connect with women who have similar experiences. However, easy online access isn’t without a price, as the internet can be a source of a lot of misinformation that often threatens women and child safety.
Psychological harm caused by misinformation
Ideally, the availability of health information online should provide women with the information they seek. In reality, however, it can result in dire consequences, according to OBGYN Dr. Asil Jallad, who told SMEX that “some women resort to wrong treatments based on a quick internet search. Such remedies for symptoms can harm both the mother and the fetus.”
Dr. Jallad emphasizes that pregnancy is not a “nine-month disease,” as marketed on different digital media platforms. This misleading idea can make women hesitant and doubtful, compelling them to take decisions that can affect them negatively, she added.
Ghaidaa’s experience is no different than that of many other women. When she knew she was pregnant, the young Jordanian downloaded a mobile application to track her progress.
“I didn’t feel the fetus moving at the time specified on the app, so I searched for further information on the app. I was shocked to conclude that my fetus is dead.”
“I continued looking for information online and on other pregnancy apps, but I only felt more stressed and worried, which affected my mental health. I was obsessed with reading other women’s pregnancy experiences on social media and applying their symptoms to myself, even when they weren’t really similar.”
Ghaidaa relied on advice from women’s groups on Facebook, and tried remedies such as herbs and other recipes without any scientific or medical basis.
Psychological and Educational Consultant, Dr. Moussa Matarneh, emphasizes the importance of consulting physicians and/or psychological consultants among pregnant women. He stresses that many online sources can be inaccurate, leading to more distress and emotional instability.
Dr. Matarneh explains that “comparing experiences may severely harm a woman’s mental health, especially when they revolve around miscarriage or death during labor.”
He urges women to stop relying on social media for guidance and instead seek support and advice from qualified psychological consultants.
Jordan pledges to offer sexual and reproductive health services
The Jordanian government issued what is known as the “Higher Population Council’s Guidebook on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues” as a reference framework to achieve comprehensive access to integrated reproductive and sexual health services and information.
The Guidebook aims to “contribute to the well-being of families in Jordan, in accordance with goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) (2016-2039), through expanding healthcare services packages to include pre-natal care, pre-marital services, mental health, non-communicable diseases, and nutrition support.”
“This strategy also safeguards the right of all groups to access sexual and reproductive health information by providing diverse and creative social media content for all ages […], as well as using social media platforms supervised by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to advocate for reproductive health issues.”
In an interview with SMEX, Director of Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health Dr. Hadil Al-Saih confirmed “the Ministry’s absolute commitment to achieving strategic goals by building the capacities and qualifications of health personnel to provide sexual and reproductive health services in all primary healthcare centers.”
According to Al-Saih, local committees are responsible for introducing citizens to sexual and reproductive health services, their availability in healthcare centers, how to access them, and how to benefit from them. The Ministry is also continuously working on raising public awareness by publishing a variety of visual and written educational materials.
Jordan’s Information and Research Center (IRCKHF), which seeks to promote socio-economic development, issued a 2021 report on Correcting the Common Misconceptions on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
The report clearly states how women resort to digital platforms to obtain health information, advice, diagnoses, treatments, care, and preventive services related to sexual and reproductive health for family planning and maternal and child health information.
Jordan is one of 179 countries that allocate a budget for sexual and reproductive health, considering it as a basic human right.
The report stresses that women must not rely on “information circulating on websites and social media platforms because it might not be accurate,” adding that the internet cannot be considered a reliable source. The report also highlights several challenges facing access to trustworthy health information.
In April 2024, SMEX published the study “From Sharing to Silence: Assessing Social Media Suppression of SRHR Content in WANA,” which revealed that social media platforms imposed restrictions on organizations and content creators who publish about sexual and reproductive health and rights and removed their content and/or banned their accounts.
The responsibility lies primarily with governments and technology companies, as they should provide safe spaces for both accurate information and combating misinformation.
