Observational studyBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026
Evaluation of maternal health literacy and its impact on pregnancy outcomes: A longitudinal study in a tertiary care hospital, Karachi.
Observational study in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionMaternal health literacy (MHL) plays a crucial role in impacting pregnancy outcomes, access to healthcare, and the general health of mothers and newborns. In Pakistan, where health challenges such as population growth, maternal education deficits, and poverty persist, health literacy is a growing concern. Despite progress, with 58% general health literacy recorded in 2019, gaps remain, particularly in maternal health awareness.
objectivesThis project intends to assess the level of maternal health literacy among pregnant women and to examine its association with selected maternal and neonatal outcomes at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. METHODOLOGY: This longitudinal observational study was conducted at The Indus Hospital, Karachi. A total of 386 pregnant women (gestational age > 28 weeks) were enrolled and interviewed using non-probability consecutive sampling during the third trimester, then prospectively followed through labor and the immediate postpartum period to document maternal and neonatal outcomes via clinical records. MHL was assessed using a validated questionnaire covering sociodemographic details, health knowledge, information seeking behaviors, and decision-making processes. Association between MHL and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.
resultsThe findings revealed that Maternal health literacy (MHL) was inadequate in majority of participants (65.8%). Preterm birth (40.4%) and low birth weight (34.9%) were the most frequent adverse outcomes, while gestational diabetes was the most common prenatal complication. MHL was significantly associated with husband's education (p = 0.033), maternal employment status (p = 0.005), gestational diabetes (p = 0.027) and preterm delivery (p = 0.036). No significant association was observed between maternal health literacy and postnatal complications (p > 0.05).
conclusionThis study signifies the importance of maternal health education, its impact on outcomes and reveals significant gaps in maternal health literacy. These results highlighted the need to consider maternal health literacy in antenatal care strategies to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
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