Health literacy and its association with the use of information sources and with barriers to information seeking in clinic-based pregnant women

Health Care Women Int. 2009 Nov;30(11):971-88. doi: 10.1080/07399330903052152.

Abstract

We investigated health literacy and its association with the use of information sources and with barriers to information seeking in clinic-based pregnant women. The Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA) was used to measure health literacy in 143 English-speaking low-income pregnant women. About 15% of the participants demonstrated low health literacy. Participants with low health literacy were less likely to use the Internet and more likely to have self-efficacy barriers than participants with high health literacy. Interventions to promote information-seeking skills and Internet access are indicated for women with low health literacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Attitude to Health
  • Communication Barriers*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Literacy*
  • Humans
  • Information Seeking Behavior*
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Poverty
  • Pregnancy
  • United States
  • Young Adult