Health Literacy and Readiness for Newborn Hygienic Care Among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

Health literacy plays a pivotal role in enabling individuals to access, comprehend, and apply health-related information to make informed decisions. In maternal and newborn health, adequate health literacy is essential for promoting healthy behaviors and outcomes.

This study aimed to evaluate the health literacy levels of pregnant women and their readiness for newborn hygienic care, and to examine associations with sociodemographic characteristics.

This cross-sectional study included 716 pregnant women aged 18-50 years who applied to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinics of Konya City Hospital between January and July 2023. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Health Literacy Scale - Short Form, and the Scale for Pregnant Women's Readiness for Newborn Hygienic Care. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Higher health literacy levels were observed among participants with secondary or higher education, urban residence, nuclear families, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Similarly, greater readiness for newborn hygienic care was associated with having children, a healthy diet, and prior education on baby care. A significant positive correlation was found between health literacy and readiness scores.

The study highlights a positive relationship between health literacy and preparedness for newborn care among pregnant women. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted educational interventions to enhance maternal health literacy and improve newborn care practices. Integrating health literacy components into prenatal education may contribute to better maternal and child health outcomes.