title: Key Determinants Influencing the Health Literacy of Pregnant Women in the Czech Republic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health literacy is a critical determinant of women's and children's health and therefore has immense consequences for the health of society as well. Evidence from epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies indicates that unhealthy lifestyles and risky behavioural habits of parents before conception and during pregnancy influence the etiology of various health defects. Decreasing primary risk factors, practicing physical wellness, monitoring physiological markers and preparing for labour, breastfeeding and newborn care should be the main parental responsibilities during the prenatal period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study focused on specifying the main determinants of health literacy among 360 pregnant Czech women by using an anonymous questionnaire and selected anthropometric data of mothers. The criteria for study participation produced a sample representing 1.41% of Czech women in labour during a given 2012 reference period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite quite adequate knowledge of both risks and supporting factors for pregnancy and foetal development, the lifestyles of a majority of the women surveyed were far from optimum: only 30% reported good dietary and physical activity habits, 24% were active or passive smokers and one third of the women occasionally drank alcohol, more often among those who were university educated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results have confirmed previously published data noting that health literacy and a healthier lifestyle of pregnant women are associated with a higher level of education (except for alcohol drinking) and with contact with a midwife (in some examined parameters) in prenatal courses.
authors.affiliation: Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Midwifery, Komenskeho nam. 2, 66243 Brno, Czech Republic; Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilhelmova
authors.affiliation: Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Drahoslava
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hruba
authors.affiliation: Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Midwifery, Komenskeho nam. 2, 66243 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vesela
keywords: health literacy; midwife; pregnancy; prenatal care; primary prevention