Health Knowledge of Lifestyle-Related Risks during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Pregnant Women in Germany.

Anja Oechsle,Charlotte Ullrich,Michel Wensing,Manuela Bombana

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228626

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate (1) pregnant women’s level of knowledge of lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy and their potential health impact on their offspring, and (2) the factors affecting women’s knowledge of lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy. A cross-sectional observational study of pregnant women was carried out in obstetric and gynecologic care settings at three hospitals in Southern Germany. Data from 209 pregnant women revealed large knowledge gaps on lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy and their potential health impact. Factors affecting women’s knowledge of lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy were specifically associated with socioeconomic status, e.g., lower household net income, middle educational level, and statutory health insurance status. Women who had received information from their gynecologist had a higher level of knowledge of lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy. This study showed that health promotion regarding lifestyle-related risks during pregnancy specifically needs to address women from the low-to-middle socioeconomic status group. Gynecologists seem particularly effective in providing this information.

Highlights

Maternal lifestyle-related health behaviors during pregnancy impact their offspring’s health status.These adverse health behaviors cover issues on alcohol consumption, smoking, coffee consumption, nutrition, food supplements, medication, oral health, and physical activity
In order to draw a picture of the need for an intervention on health behaviors during pregnancy and to derive policy recommendations for gynecological care, this study aimed to investigate: (1) pregnant women’s level of knowledge of lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy and their potential health impact on their offspring, and (2) which factors affect women’s knowledge of lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy
The risk of non-compliant knowledge of the health effects of alcohol consumption, smoking, and a vegan diet during pregnancy, in association with independent variables, is shown in Pregnant woman with a lower household net income level were at significantly higher risk of being non-compliant in their answers concerning the state of the art on the health effects of alcohol consumption (OR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.14–7.03), smoking (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 0.98–5.46), and a vegan diet (OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.00–15.37) during pregnancy, as compared to pregnant women with a higher household net income level

Summary

Introduction

Maternal lifestyle-related health behaviors during pregnancy impact their offspring’s health status. These adverse health behaviors cover issues on alcohol consumption, smoking, coffee consumption, nutrition, food supplements, medication, oral health, and physical activity. A major condition of healthy behaviors is the ability to understand health information and how to access it. The conditions for healthy behavior are understanding the multi-facetted demands of heath, health recommendations, and instructions in our society, and adapting health behaviors [1]. A recent study by Schaeffer et al showed that, currently, 44% of those surveyed over the age of 15 have clear difficulties in understanding and assessing health information [2]

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