Research on the status and influencing factors of maternal health literacy among postpartum women in urban villages.

Abstract

Aim: To comprehensively identify the status and influencing factors on maternal health literacy among postpartum women in Guangzhou urban villages.

Design: An explanatory sequential mixed-method research was conducted from November 2021 to July 2022.

Methods: The quantitative survey was conducted among postpartum women in Guangzhou urban villages using the convenience sampling principle, and a questionnaire survey was used to reflect the status and influencing factors on maternal health literacy. The qualitative interview conducted purposive sampling based on the survey and semi-structured interviews with women to supplement the non-quantifiable influencing factors.

Results: The quantitative survey showed that the maternal health literacy score of 501 women was 193.84 ± 22.23. The quantitative results suggested that ethnicity, education, income, household registration, delivery mode and social support were important influencing factors (p < .15). The qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 women and revealed three themes and eight sub-themes, including demographic factors (ethnicity, education, income, occupation and family history), pregnancy factors (delivery mode and pregnancy complications) and social factors (social support), which influenced maternal health literacy through three routes: women's motivation, access and ability in screening health information.

Conclusion: Maternal health literacy among postpartum women in urban villages needs to be improved, especially critical health literacy. Maternal and infant workers need to guide women to develop appropriate health information concepts and consider the realistic knowledge needs of women in different socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. They should also construct a comprehensive social support system for women to better improve maternal health literacy.

Impact: Highlights the positive benefits of maternal health literacy among postpartum women, as preparation for providing accurate and effective maternal and child health education services.

Patient or public contribution: The information on maternal health literacy in this study was based on an interview with postpartum women in Guangzhou urban villages during the study period.