Jody R. Lori|Chin Hwa Y. Dahlem|Jacqueline V. Ackah|Richard Adanu
Examining Antenatal Health Literacy in Ghana
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Ghana
explore ghanaian pregnant womens understanding recognition danger signs pregnancy birth preparedness complication readiness understanding newborn carean exploratory qualitative study design useddata gathered six focus group discussions 68 pregnant women attending antenatal care busy urban hospital ghana qualitative descriptive data analyzed using spss version 21 health literacy used guiding framework analyze qualitative data data analyzed content domains understanding recognition danger signs pregnancy b preparedness childbirth c understanding recognition danger signs newborn appropriate timely referralwomen study identified danger signs pregnancy newborn difficulty interpreting operationalizing information received antenatal care visits indicating health education translate appropriate health behaviors cultural beliefs alternative medicine lack understanding prior negative encounters healthcare professionals may led underutilization professional midwives delivery health serviceswomen study exhibited low health literacy incorrectly interpreting operationalizing health education received antenatal care limited health literacy pregnant women cannot fully comprehend scope services health system provide familiesachieving greatest impact limited time antenatal care challenge since antenatal care widely available pregnant women ghana vital reexamine way antenatal education delivered pregnant women must receive health information accurate easy understand order make informed health choices improve maternal child health