The Relationship between Health Literacy and Health Practices in Pregnancy and their Affecting Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Health literacy is the ability to appraise proper health-related behaviors. Women’s health literacy levels affect not only their own health but also pregnancy, fetus, newborn, and child health. This study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and health practices in pregnancy and identify its affecting factors. 

The sample of this cross sectional study consisted of 374 pregnant women who visited the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic of a University Hospital between the 1st of March and the 1st of October, 2018 in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected using Demographic Questionnaire, Health Literacy Index, and Health Practices in Pregnancy Scale. The data were evaluated using SPSS 25.0. For analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn’s test, Spearman Rho correlation analysis, Linear regression analysis were used.

Pregnant women had a good health literacy and an above-average health practice level. A positive and significant relationship was found between health literacy and health practices (p<0.05). Income level, the place where women spent their childhood, perception of pregnancy, and behaviors demonstrated in case of a health problem were found as influencing factors of health literacy level. Health practices in pregnancy were found to be significantly affected by age, educational level, perception of pregnancy, and behaviors demonstrated in case of a health problem (p<0.05).

The study indicates that health literacy and health practices in pregnancy are affected by many important socio-demographic characteristics. In addition, health practices demonstrated during pregnancy increase with the increase in pregnant women’s health literacy levels.