Health Literacy, Information Seeking Patterns and Perceived Outcomes among Pregnant Women in Two Districts of Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundPregnant women that engage in information seeking process are more likely to have a high level of knowledge about their health, be confident to discuss their health concerns with their health care providers and report better health promotion activities than individuals who do not seek health information. However, health literacy influence pregnant women’s information seeking behaviours and consequently their health knowledge and health outcomes. Limited studies have explored the effects of health literacy on the outcomes associated with the information seeking among pregnant women in Tanzania. This study investigates the relationship between health literacy and information seeking patterns and its associated outcomes among pregnant women in Tanzania. MethodsA cross- sectional survey was conducted among 260 pregnant women aged 18 and above attending selected antenatal clinics (ANC) in Tanzania. Health literacy was assessed using a REALM-SF instrument while information seeking patterns while the associated outcomes were measured using three Likert scales. Descriptive and analytic analyzes were performed using the SPSS, version 24.ResultsAmong the demographic factors, level of education was significantly associated with the level of health literacy (p<0.001). The level of health literacy was better among married pregnant women than those who were not married, and among those who have high income more than those with low-income. The number of ANC visits, gestational age and parity were significantly associated with the level of health literacy (p<0.05). A significant relationship was found between health literacy with seeking health information from village leaders (p < 0.0001) and all online information sources (p < 0.05). Pregnant women with high level of health literacy strongly agree to confirm (from health professionals) the validity of health information they receive from different sources and to recommend the importance of searching health information to others (p<0.001).ConclusionHealth literacy has great influence on maternal health behaviors and the associated outcomes. Maternal health interventions targeting both individual women and the public to ensure high health literacy levels across communities are required. An integration of online/ web-based health information in ANC health educational packages would warrant pregnant women access to high quality health information.

An assessment of health information literacy among women in rural Lake Zone, Tanzania

“…By contrast, inadequate levels of health information literacy have been associated with poor health decision-making (Heijmans et al, 2015), inadequate self-care and a lack of preventive behaviours (Soltani and Dickinson, 2005), and increasing rates of both hospitalization and mortality among women (Mahdizadeh and Solhi, 2018). Studies have also shown that women with inadequate levels of health information literacy are more likely to seek and access health information from non-credible sources, thus endangering their health (Kassim and Katunzi-Mollel, 2017; Mbekenga et al, 2021). This inadequacy is a barrier to women’s access to relevant health information that would help them make appropriate health decisions.…”

“…Socio-demographic factors such as education, income, marital status and age have been reported by numerous studies as determinant factors of health information literacy. Many studies, for instance, have associated higher levels of health information literacy with higher levels of education (Dumenci et al, 2014; Eriksson-Backa et al, 2012; McKee et al, 2015; Mbekenga et al, 2021; Sahm et al, 2012). In contrast, only a few studies have found no association between educational attainment and levels of health information literacy (see Muhanga and Malungo, 2018), thus suggesting that while education can be considered an important factor for health information literacy, in some contexts it is not.…”

“…Furthermore, studies have reported a significant association between marital status and health information literacy (Kassim and Ndumbaro, 2020; Mbekenga et al, 2021; Muhanga and Malungo, 2018). In these studies, women who are married are reported to have higher levels of health information literacy compared with those who are not married.…”

“…Benard and Chipungahelo, 2017; Heijmans et al, 2015; Hirvonen, 2015; Mahdizadeh and Solhi, 2018; Mojoniyola, 2011; Zimmerman, 2017), research in this area, particularly in developing countries like Tanzania, is scarce. Only a few studies have specifically assessed the health information literacy skills of women of childbearing age in rural Tanzania (see Kassim and Ndumbaro, 2020; Mbekenga et al, 2021). Other available studies on health information literacy in Tanzania have focused on medical librarians (Haruna et al, 2017) and health-care providers and agricultural officers (Wema, 2013).…”

Socio-demographic influence on the pregnant women's comprehension of maternal health information in Tanzania

“…In addition, pregnant women with stable incomes and occupations tend to have wider access to resources and can better comprehend health information. The literature reviewed revealed that most studies conducted in Tanzania on maternal health information have little documentation on pregnant women's comprehension of maternal health information ([ [7] , [8] , [9] , 15 ]). In fact, none of the studies has researched the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on pregnant women's understanding of maternal health information, particularly in the Coastal region.…”