Health literacy and pregnancy preparedness in pregestational diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between functional health literacy and markers of pregnancy preparedness in women with pregestational diabetes.


METHODS
English- and Spanish-speaking pregnant women with pregestational diabetes were recruited. Women completed the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) short form and a questionnaire. A TOFHLA score of < or =30 was defined as low functional health literacy.


RESULTS
Of 74 women participating in the study, 16 (22%) were classified as having low functional health literacy. Compared with women with adequate health literacy, those with low health literacy were significantly more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy (P = 0.02) and significantly less likely to have either discussed pregnancy ahead of time with an endocrinologist or obstetrician (P = 0.01) or taken folic acid (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that low functional health literacy among women with pregestational diabetes is associated with several factors that may adversely impact birth outcomes.
Endres
Loraine K
LK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. lendres@uic.edu
Sharp
Lisa K
LK
Haney
Elaine
E
Dooley
Sharon L
SL
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002641:Chicago; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D044469:Racial Groups