Maternal Health Literacy and Its Determinants among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Scoping Review of Published and Grey Literature
نویسندگان
1 Lecturer at College of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery Debre Markos University, Debre Markos Ethiopia, MSc in maternity.
2 Lecturer at College of Health Sciences Department of Nursing, Woldia University, Woldia Ethiopia, MSc Surgical nursing.
3 Lecturer at College of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery Woldia University, Woldia Ethiopia, MSc in clinical midwifery.
4 Assistant professor at College of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery Woldia University, Woldia Ethiopia, MSc in clinical midwifery.
5 Lecturer at College of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery Woldia University, Woldia Ethiopia, MSc in clinical midwifery.
6 Lecturer at College of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery Jimma University, Jimma Ethiopia, MSc in maternity.
7 Lecturer at College of Health Sciences Department of Midwifery Woldia University, Woldia Ethiopia, MSc in clinical midwifery.
doi
10.22038/jhl.2025.92288.1883چکیده
Background and Objective: Maternal health literacy (MHL) is a woman’s ability to access, understand, interpret and use health information to make informed decisions during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period that benefit both mother and child. It is a critical determinant of maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, evidence on maternal health literacy and its determinants in Ethiopia remains scarce and fragmented. Hence, mapping existing evidence can inform policymakers and health practitioners, providing a foundation for designing targeted interventions to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. To map existing evidence on maternal health literacy and determinant factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.Materials and Methods: This scoping review was developed in accordance with the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Relevant studies were retrieved from peer-reviewed journals, theses, and institutional reports. Data were extracted for study characteristics, measurement tools, maternal health literacy levels, and determinants. Findings were synthesized descriptively and thematically.Results: in this scoping review, the proportion of adequate maternal health literacy levels was ranged from 25.5% to 55.5%. Three broad themes of determinants were developed: socio-demographic (Socio-demographic factors such as educational attainment, age at first pregnancy, residence, and travel time), health service related (Having antenatal and postnatal care, as well as exposure to counseling during facility-based deliveries), and community or structural factors (Enrollment in Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) and the presence and accessibility of Health Extension Workers (HEWs) were equally important). Conclusion: Maternal health literacy among Ethiopian women remains low and influenced by a combination of socio-demographic, health service related, and community or structural factors. Enhancing MHL requires comprehensive, context-sensitive strategies that improve education, increase access to maternal health services, and strengthen community-based programs. Addressing these multidimensional determinants will empower women to make informed health decisions, ultimately contributing to better maternal and child health outcomes across Ethiopia.
