Abstract
We investigated the association between functional health literacy and markers of pregnancy preparedness in women with pregestational diabetes. 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. 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). 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.
Highlights
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — English- and Spanish-speaking pregnant women with pregestational diabetes were recruited
Of 74 women participating in the study, 16 (22%) were classified as having low functional health literacy
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
Summary
OBJECTIVE — We investigated the association between functional health literacy and markers of pregnancy preparedness in women with pregestational diabetes. Women completed the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) short form and a questionnaire. RESULTS — Of 74 women participating in the study, 16 (22%) were classified as having low functional health literacy. 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. We performed a pilot study evaluating the association between low functional health literacy in women with pregestational diabetes and markers for adverse pregnancy outcome. Each participant completed the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) short form and a demographic and medical questionnaire [18]. Participants were categorized into low (Յ30) and adequate (Ͼ30) functional health literacy based on TOFHLA scores. There were 39 (67%) women with type 1 diabetes in the adequate functional health
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