Jody R. Lori|Henrietta Ofosu-Darkwah|Carol J. Boyd|Tanima Banerjee|Richard Adanu
Improving health literacy through group antenatal care: a prospective cohort study
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Ghana Health Service|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Ghana
examine whether exposure group antenatal care increased womens health literacy improving ability interpret utilize health messages compared women received standard individual antenatal care ghana used prospective cohort design setting busy urban district hospital kumasi second populous city ghana pregnant women n 240 presenting first antenatal visit 11 14 weeks gestation offered participation study 27 dropout rate experienced due miscarriage transfer failure return followup visits leaving 184 women final sample data collected using individual structured survey medical record review summary statistics well two sample ttests chisquare performed evaluate group effect significant group differences found women participating group care demonstrated improved health literacy exhibiting greater understanding operationalize health education messages significant difference women enrolled group antenatal care verses individual antenatal care preventing problems delivery understanding access care birth preparedness complication readiness intent use modern method family planning postpartum greater understanding components breastfeeding lactational amenorrhea birth spacing intent postpartum followup group antenatal care compared individual care offers opportunity increase quality care improve maternal newborn outcomes group antenatal care holds potential increase healthy behaviors promote respectful maternity care generate demand services group anc improves womens health literacy prevent recognize problems prepare delivery care newborn