FUNCTIONAL HEALTH LITERACY IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN HEALTH CENTERS OF URMIA CITY- 2015

Mother's health literacy is a key and important factor in ensuring prenatal cares, prenatal health, and the successful outcomes of this period. This study was aimed to determine the level of Functional Health Literacy in pregnant women in health centers of Urmia city.
This cross-sectional study done on 400 pregnant women referred to health centers, which had the inclusion criteria. Data Collection tool includes two-parts; first part of questionnaire, questions about demographic characteristics and second part was Functional Health Literacy Inventory short form) S-TOFHLA). We used the software SPSS (version 17) and descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Significant level was considered less than 0.05.
The mean age of participants in the study, 27.3 ± 5.99 years. The majority of participants are primary school (42.3%), housewives (84%) and Underpaid daily life (83.6%). The mean gestational age was 21.9 ± 7.65 weeks and 24% had inadequate levels of literacy, 25% border literacy and 51% adequate literacy.
The results indicate that the level of functional literacy of most mothers in this study is sufficient. However, considering the effect of mother's health literacy on the health of the child and the family, and according to the results of this study, the income of the household and the mother's occupation and education plays an important role in promoting health literacy, So, in order to promote the health literacy of all pregnant women; macroeconomic, social and health policies should be taken. And then we can see an improvement in the health literacy of all mothers, including mothers living in the city and rural areas, at every level of economic income and all sections of society.