Health literacy and related factors in postpartum women in Farsan, Iran

Heidari, Homeira; Janighorban, Mojgan

doi:10.22038/jhl.2023.72599.1428

Health literacy and related factors in postpartum women in Farsan, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Master student, Reproductive Health Education, Faculty of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

² Assistant professor, Reproductive Sciences and Sexual Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

10.22038/jhl.2023.72599.1428

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Health literacy provides us not only with motivation and knowledge, but also with the opportunity to seek, comprehend, assess, and apply information for making right decision in critical situations. Pregnancy and postpartum are considered to be unique and significant periods in a woman's life. Health literacy and its determinants can play an important role in protecting and improving the health of women. The aim of this study was to assess health literacy and its associated factors among postpartum women referring to Farsan comprehensive health centers.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive–analytical study was conducted on 300 postpartum women referring to Farsan comprehensive health centers in 2021. Quota-convenience Sampling was used to select the participants. Data were collected by demographic information and Iranian health literacy standard questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Independent t-test and Pearson correlation test, kruskal-wallis and Mann-whitney tests were used to analyze the data.

Results: The total mean score of health literacy was 61.62±17.02. Among the dimensions of health literacy, the highest score belonged to understanding, followed by reading, accessibility, evaluation and decision making. 63 (21%) of the participants had inadequate health literacy, 96 (32%) had not quite adequate, 128 (42.7%) had adequate, and 13 (34.3%) had high health literacy. Health literacy was significantly correlated with age (r=0.342, p<0.001), education (Χ2= 17.734, p<.001), occupational status (t=-2.843, p=.005) and spouse' age (r=.264, p<.001).

Conclusions: Health literacy score in more than half of women in our study was inadequate, especially in the young women with young husbands, low education level and housewives. The dimensions of evaluation and decision-making should be given more attention and effective interventions should be designed in this regard.

Keywords

Acknowledgement: This article is the result of a master’s thesis at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with the code of 399762. The researchers would like to express their thanks to the Vice Chancellor for Research of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and the women who participated in the study.

Availability of data and materials: Data are available from the authors upon reasonable request

Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests

Consent for publication: not applicable

Ethical considerations: This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with the ethics code of IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1399.668. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Participation in this study was completely voluntary, and informed written consent was obtained from all participants. The questionnaires were anonymous, and the participants were assured that their information would remain confidential.

Funding: Research deputy of Isfahan University of medical sciences

Authors' contributions: MJ designed the work, analyzed and interpreted the data, was a major contributor in writing the manuscript; H.H designed and implemented the work, analyzed the data. Authors have read and approved the manuscript.

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