Relationship between Health Literacy and Health-Promoting Behaviors among Teen Pregnant Mothers

Abstract

Background: Teenagers who became pregnant face many pregnancy difficulties as they are less likely to have enough physical development to withstand a healthy pregnancy or to give birth. Thus, health literacy and the promotion of healthy behavior among pregnant mothers are of paramount importance. This study is aimed to assess the relationship between health literacy and health-promoting behaviors among the selected teen pregnant mothers in attaining maternal health. Methods: Descriptive-correlational design was employed in this study. A total of 46 respondents participated in the study through a purposive sampling technique. The research instruments used were the Adolescent Health Promotion Scale and Comprehensive Short-form Health Literacy Survey Tool for Patients in General. Frequency, percentage, descriptive mean, and spearman Rank Correlation were used to analyze the data gathered. Results: Results showed that teen pregnant mothers have high levels of health literacy (n=2.16) but with low levels of health-promoting behavior (n=3.45). Lastly, it was found out these variables were statistically nonsignificant (rs (47) = -0.127, p =0.393) to each other. Conclusion: The study found out that there is no significant relationship between health literacy and health-promoting behaviors among teen pregnant mothers.

Keywords

• Health literacy
• health-promoting behaviors
• maternal health
• teen pregnant mothers