MATERNAL HEALTH LITERACY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEM IN ASELLA TOWN OROMIA, ARSI ETHIOPA, 2024: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Background: Maternal health literacy is the ability of mothers to obtain, interpret, appraise, and apply women and child health information that contributes to a reduction in mortality among mothers and children. But little is known about the prevalence of maternal health literacy (MHL) and its contributing factors during pregnancy in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Objective: To assess prevalence of maternal health literacy and associated factors among pregnant woman in Asella town, South East, Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Asella town from August 01, 2024, to September 30, 2024. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered valid and reliable structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epidata version 4.6.0.2 and exported to SPSS version 26 for final analysis. Accordingly, a logistic regression was used to identify independent determinants of maternal health literacy among pregnant women. All variables with a p value < 0.25 in the binary logistic regression model were considered for multivariable analysis and a P-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant. Result: The overall prevalence of adequate maternal health literacy was 262 (62.4%), with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of (57.6, 66.9). Several factors were associated with MHL , including enrollment in Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.68; 95% CI: (1.39, 5.16) at P-value = 0.003), a travel distance of less than 30 minutes to a health facility (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI: (1.14, 3.09) at P-value = 0.013), and attaining secondary education (AOR = 6.75; 95% CI: (3.53, 12.92) at P-value = 0.001), or a college or university degree (AOR = 5.93; 95% CI: (2.56, 13.72) at P-value = 0.001). Conclusion and Recommendation: The study shows that over half of pregnant women in Asella town have adequate Maternal Health Literacy. Education, pregnancy status, Community Based Health Insurance enrollment, Gravida and distance to health facility influence MHL. Targeted interventions are needed in order to address these issues like women's education, community enrollment, and health facility distance, through policies, mobile clinics, partnerships, and ongoing education. Key word: -Maternal, health, literacy