title: Health Literacy and Women's Reproductive Health: A Systematic Review.
abstract: Health literacy is thought to impact women's reproductive health, yet no comprehensive systematic reviews have been conducted on the topic. Our objective was to systematically identify, investigate, and summarize research on the relationship between health literacy and women's reproductive health knowledge, behaviors, and outcomes.
  
  
  
  PRISMA guidelines were used to guide this review. English language, peer-reviewed research articles indexed in MEDLINE as of February 2015 were searched, along with study results posted on Clinicaltrials.gov . Articles were included if they (1) described original data-driven research conducted in developed countries, (2) were published in a peer-reviewed journal, (3) measured health literacy using a validated assessment, (4) reported on the relationship between health literacy and reproductive health outcomes, related knowledge, or behaviors, and (5) consisted of a study population that included reproductive age women.
  
  
  
  A total of 34 articles met eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Data were abstracted from articles by two study authors using a standardized form. Abstracted data were then reviewed and summarized in table format. Overall, health literacy was associated with reproductive health knowledge across a spectrum of topics. It was also related to certain health behaviors, such as prenatal vitamin use and breastfeeding. Its relationship with other reproductive behaviors and outcomes remains unclear.
  
  
  
  Health literacy plays an important role in reproductive knowledge and may impact behaviors and outcomes. While further research is necessary, healthcare providers should utilize health literacy best practices now to promote high-quality care for patients.
authors: 1 Division of Women's Primary Health Care, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine , Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Kimberly A
authors: KA
authors: Kilfoyle
authors: 2 Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Vitko
authors: 3 Health Literacy and Learning Program, Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University , Chicago, Illinois.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: O'Conor
authors: 1 Division of Women's Primary Health Care, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine , Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Stacy Cooper
authors: SC
authors: Bailey
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: cancer screening; contraception; health literacy; obstetrics; reproductive health; sexual behavior