Health Literacy and Adherence to Dietary Regimen among Women with Gestational Diabetes under Nutrition Therapy

Abstract

Background: Treatment adherence in diabetics is an important challenge in controlling diabetes. Health literacy is a great determinant of health. Future studies need to address determinants of adherence, as this may be crucial. Aim: Determining the association between health literacy and treatment adherence to the treatment regimen in women with gestational diabetes. Method: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 women with gestational diabetes receive nutrition therapy from September to January 2019. The subjects were selected by multistage sampling methods from ten health centers and Imam Reza, Ghaem, and Ommolbanin Hospitals of Mashhad. Data were collected by the brief Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA), and a researcher-made questionnaire of adherence to the treatment regimen (diet, exercise, and blood sugar monitoring) with verified validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16. Results: Spearman's rank correlation coefficient indicated significant direct relationships between health literacy and the score of dietary adherence (p <0.001, r=0.314), blood sugar monitoring (p <0.001, r=0.241), exercise adherence (P=0.009, r=0.162) with total adherence to the treatment regimen (p <0.001, r=0.356). Implications for Practice: Promoting health literacy through educational interventions in mothers with gestational diabetes is essential according to its relation to raise dietary adherence (diet, exercise, blood sugar monitoring).

Keywords

• diet therapy
• gestational diabetes mellitus
• health literacy
• treatment adherence