Health literacy and prenatal empowerment as predictors of Prenatal Care Adherence

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the predictive power of prenatal empowerment and maternal health literacy variables on adherence to prenatal care.

Materials and methods: The study used a predictive design for the dependent variable adherence to prenatal care. The population consisted of pregnant adult women in their third trimester of pregnancy. The sample included 233 participants who were selected at convenience in public health institutions offering prenatal care services in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua. The measurement instruments used were the Maternal Health Literacy in Pregnancy inventory (MHELIP); the Pregnancy Empowerment Scale (PRES); and an activity compliance index to measure adherence to prenatal care. SPSS version 22 was used to analyze the information. This study respected the human rights of the participants, ensuring data reliability, anonymity, and preservation of dignity and freedom to withdraw at any time.

Results: 233 pregnant women participated in the study. 81.1% of the women in the study presented strong prenatal empowerment, while 37.8% had a sufficient level of maternal health literacy. The mean adherence to prenatal care was 11.24 (SD= 2.14), on a maximum of 16 points. The model was significant
(F _(2,230) =10.66, R²=.07, p=.00). Predictor variables for adherence to prenatal care were maternal health literacy (B=.21, p=.00) and prenatal empowerment (B=.15, p=.01).

Conclusions: Pregnant women who presented higher maternal health literacy and prenatal empowerment presented higher adherence to prenatal care.

Key words: Health literacy; Empowerment; Pregnancy; Prenatal care.