Educating first-time mothers about health literacy

Abstract

Issues of health care during motherhood involve the necessity to search for information. Low health literacy of mothers is an important risk factor because it negatively affects the understanding of a diagnosis and child treatment processes as well as the correctness of health decisions. A health literate person is able to acquire, evaluate and understand information and act on that basis in accordance with health. However, during the period of preparation for motherhood and motherhood itself, it is possible to lead to higher health literacy only those women who are interested in it. It would be necessary to functionally set an education system that would lean on a multidisciplinary team of midwives, nurses, doctors, therapists, medical social workers and the like. The aim of the study was to present conceptual maps compiled by midwives that include topics and contexts which are specific to the health literacy content of mothers with children in the symbiotic phase (i.e. up to 6 months of age). Brainstorming in groups of midwives was the method for compilation of the conceptual maps. The issue was focused on the specification of course contents for primiparas. A total of 5 focus groups were realized. Basic course content includes a wide spectrum of educational activities ranging from healthy lifestyle to practical skills with a child. Midwives put emphasis on education in the area of skills and knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth, and agree that the practical skills with a child cannot be entirely learned during the prenatal course. It would be appropriate to introduce postnatal courses that would be generally available and free of charge. Socially weaker classes which do not have access to paid courses seem to be problematic. All the information to be given to mothers should have a comprehensible form and should also be individually tailored. Internet is increasingly becoming a very popular source of information. It is a comfortable but also problematic source in terms of high risk of contradictory information. That is why there is a growing need to teach mothers critical thinking and orientation in medical information.