Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal
Volume 15, Issue 3 (10-2025)
Prev Care Nurs Midwifery J 2025, 15(3): 41-49 |
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Ethics code: IR.ZUMS.REC.1400.107
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Esmaili N Z, jafari varjoshani N, hasanloo M, sepehrinia M. Maternal health literacy and its association with breastfeeding self-efficacy and nutritional performance: A cross-sectional study. Prev Care Nurs Midwifery J 2025; 15 (3) :41-49
URL: http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-978-en.html
URL: http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-978-en.html
Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , m.sepehrinea@zums.ac.ir
Abstract: (296 Views)
Background: Health literacy (HL) lays the foundation for health-related decisions. Moreover, nutrition during infancy plays a critical role in a child’s growth and development. Therefore, it is particularly important to investigate the status of maternal health literacy (MHL) and its relationship with nutritional performance (NP).
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association of mothers’ HL level with their breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) and NP.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 234 mothers recruited from urban integrated healthcare service centers (UIHSCs) and their affiliated healthcare bases using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using demographic survey questions, the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), the Breastfeeding Self‑Efficacy Scale‑Short Form (BSES‑SF), and the researcher-made Mother’s Complementary Feeding Performance (MCFP) Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the correlation coefficient test were used to analyze the data in SPSS 24.
Findings: The mean (SD) scores for Health Literacy, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, and Nutritional Performance were 71.47 (11.98), 42.65 (8.79), and 20.36 (4.20), respectively, indicating adequate to satisfactory levels. The mothers' HL and its components were significantly related to their BSE and NP (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Given the relationship between mothers’ HL levels and their BSE and NP, the findings of this study highlight the need for greater attention to education across various areas, including mass media, and to the provision of educational courses in UIHSCs.
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association of mothers’ HL level with their breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) and NP.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 234 mothers recruited from urban integrated healthcare service centers (UIHSCs) and their affiliated healthcare bases using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using demographic survey questions, the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), the Breastfeeding Self‑Efficacy Scale‑Short Form (BSES‑SF), and the researcher-made Mother’s Complementary Feeding Performance (MCFP) Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the correlation coefficient test were used to analyze the data in SPSS 24.
Findings: The mean (SD) scores for Health Literacy, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, and Nutritional Performance were 71.47 (11.98), 42.65 (8.79), and 20.36 (4.20), respectively, indicating adequate to satisfactory levels. The mothers' HL and its components were significantly related to their BSE and NP (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Given the relationship between mothers’ HL levels and their BSE and NP, the findings of this study highlight the need for greater attention to education across various areas, including mass media, and to the provision of educational courses in UIHSCs.
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Knowledge Translation Statement
Audience: Maternal-child health nurses, lactation consultants, and public health educators
Higher maternal health literacy is significantly associated with greater breastfeeding self-efficacy and improved maternal nutritional performance. Integrate routine health literacy assessments into prenatal and postnatal care to identify at-risk mothers, and provide tailored, clear, and accessible educational support to empower informed infant feeding and self-care decisions, thereby improving both maternal and child health outcomes.
Audience: Maternal-child health nurses, lactation consultants, and public health educators
Higher maternal health literacy is significantly associated with greater breastfeeding self-efficacy and improved maternal nutritional performance. Integrate routine health literacy assessments into prenatal and postnatal care to identify at-risk mothers, and provide tailored, clear, and accessible educational support to empower informed infant feeding and self-care decisions, thereby improving both maternal and child health outcomes.
Type of Study: Orginal research |
Subject:
Nursing
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