Effect of Mothers' Health Literacy Level on Their Knowledge and Attitudes About Newborn Screening

To evaluate the effect of postpartum mothers' health literacy levels on their knowledge and attitudes toward newborn screening.

This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted in the postpartum ward of a university hospital in Ankara, Türkiye. The sample consisted of 160 postpartum mothers. Data were collected using a parent identification form, a health literacy scale, and a researcher-developed scale assessing maternal knowledge and attitudes toward newborn screening. Spearman correlation analysis, regression analysis, and path analysis were used to evaluate relationships among variables.

Mothers' health literacy levels were at a moderate-to-high level (94.55 ± 13.4), while their knowledge and attitudes toward newborn screening were at a moderate level (37.23 ± 3.7). Maternal health literacy had a significant effect on overall knowledge and attitudes regarding newborn screening (β = 0.17, P = .032). Health literacy demonstrated a stronger effect on attitudes toward newborn screening (β = 0.23, P = .003) and a substantial effect on knowledge level (β = 0.30, P < .001).

Postpartum mothers' health literacy levels significantly influence their knowledge and attitudes toward newborn screening. Enhancing maternal health literacy may improve awareness, engagement, and the overall effectiveness of newborn screening programs.

Given that nurses are a primary source of information for parents, strengthening nurse-led education and counseling is essential. Ongoing training should support nurses' communication and educational competencies. Future multicenter studies with larger samples are needed to examine the long-term effects of health literacy-focused educational interventions on newborn screening outcomes.