Health Literacy and Pregnancy Preparedness in Pregestational Diabetes

Short Description
gard to overall health, diabetes control,. and whether the pregnancy was planned. …. Table 2-Pregnancy preparedness by functional health literacy status …

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Content
Health Literacy and Pregnancy
Preparedness in Pregestational Diabetes
LORAINE K. ENDRES, MD
1
LISA K. SHARP, PHD
2
ELAINE HANEY, BS, MS
3
SHARON L. DOOLEY, MD, MPH
1
OBJECTIVE- We investigated the association between functional health literacy and markers
of pregnancy preparedness in women with pregestational diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- 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 30
was defined as low functional health literacy.
RESULTS- 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).
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.
Diabetes Care 27:331-334, 2004…