INTRODUCTION:
Health risks associated with pregnancy may be poorly understood by pregnant women, placing them at risk of developing these complications, delaying diagnosis, or making poorly-informed decisions. This study evaluates the health literacy among pregnant women to highlight potential gaps that exist in maternal health knowledge.
METHODS:
This study was conducted in the prenatal clinic at a public teaching hospital. Women were individually interviewed, one-on-one, in private areas in the clinic. IRB approval was granted by LABioMed and Western University of Health Sciences. Statistical significance was identified with a Chi Square test when P<0.05.
RESULTS:
Altogether 184 surveys were collected. Five percent of women who were asked about specific pregnancy-related health risks were able to identify all seven correctly from a multiple-choice list; 30.6% correctly answered that the risks of blood clots, diabetes, and high blood pressure increased in pregnancy. These findings were associated with higher education (P=.0171), but independent of age (P=.6588), previous pregnancy (P=.7599), and gestational age (P=.5771). When asked if pregnancy or birth control pills are more hazardous to a woman’s health, 75% of participants noted the latter regardless of age (P=.5689), previous pregnancy (P=.4439), gestational age (P=.8469), and education (P=.994).
CONCLUSION:
Our study highlights that a large percentage of pregnant women are unaware of the health risks associated with pregnancy. As pregnancy has a large impact on a mother’s health, it is crucial to understand where educational gaps exist so they may be appropriately addressed by clinicians.
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