Effect of Prenatal Health Education Intervention on Birth Weight in Iran

Background and Objective: Maternal health literacy during pregnancy is essential in maintaining health of themselves and their children. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a maternal education intervention based on the self-efficacy theory and health literacy on birth weight.Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on ۷۶ pregnant mothers, referred to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences health centers, Mashhad, Iran for routine prenatal checkups in ۲۰۱۵. The participants were assigned to two groups based on multistage cluster sampling method. Study questionnaires included demographic, maternal health literacy, pregnancy outcome and perceived dietary self-efficacy questionnaires Educational intervention including oral presentation, group discussion and multimedia tutorials. The questionnaires were completed at baseline, after intervention and at three months of follow up.Results: The mean age of mothers was ۲۴.۹۲ ± ۴.۸۴ years (۲۳.۹۲ ± ۴.۵۹ and ۲۵.۹۲ ± ۴.۹۴ years in intervention and control groups respectively). There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of age, maternal health literacy and self-efficacy at baseline. Intervention resulted in significant improvement in health literacy (p<۰.۰۰۱) and nutrition self-efficacy (p<۰.۰۰۱) in the intervention group compared to control group. The mean birth weight of children was significantly higher in the intervention group (۳۳۲۴.۱۴ ± ۴۱۶.۱۲ g) compared to the control group (۳۰۰۷.۷۳ ± ۴۶۸.۶۳ g) (p=۰.۰۰۳).Conclusions: The present findings indicate the effectiveness of the designed educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory in improving maternal health literacy and promoting normal birth weight in newborns.

کلیدواژه ها:

Maternal Health Literacy ، Pregnancy Outcomes ، Low Birth Weight ، Education