Maternal health literacy and postpartum complication readiness among nursing mothers: Implications for adult literacy educators in Southern Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed maternal health literacy and postpartum complication readiness among nursing mothers and identify the implications for adult literacy educators in the Southern Cross River State, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 252 nursing mothers using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample t-test. The results showed that with an average mean of 2.2, the participants’ level of maternal health literacy was moderate, while the average mean was 2.1 equally indicates that the level of postpartum complication readiness among respondents was equally moderate. The respondents’ education level, household income, and mode of delivery were not significantly associated with health literacy and postpartum complication readiness. Specifically, nursing mothers with higher levels of education and household income were not likely to have adequate health literacy and better postpartum complication readiness than others. The study’s results also indicate that adult literacy educators play a crucial role in improving maternal health literacy levels among nursing mothers. These educators can provide effective health education to nursing mothers to enhance their knowledge of maternal health and postpartum complications. This study highlights the need for adult literacy educators to incorporate maternal health literacy and postpartum complication readiness into their programs. This can be achieved by developing tailored health literacy materials and using interactive teaching methods that promote active participation and discussion among learners. Moreover, community-based interventions targeting vulnerable populations such as low-income mothers and those with limited education are needed to improve maternal health outcomes in Nigeria.