EDUCATING FIRST-TIME MOTHERS ABOUT HEALTH LITERACY

The issue of health care during pregnancy is related to the necessity to seek information. Low health literacy of mothers is a significant risk factor since it negatively affects the understanding of the process of the child’s diagnosis and treatment as well as the decisions regarding health. A health literate person is able to obtain, assess, and understand the information and act based on the information in a way beneficial to health. In the period of preparing for the motherhood and during the motherhood, it is nevertheless possible to guide the women towards greater health literacy only if they are interested. It is necessary to set a functional education system which would be grounded in a multidisciplinary team – midwives, nurses, doctors, therapists, health-social workers etc. The current centers for mothers that are developing are a good base. It is essential especially to sustain the supportive non-medical counseling services.

The aim of the study was to introduce the conceptual maps designed by the midwives which include the themes and contexts that are specific for the content of health literacy of mothers with children in the symbiotic stage (i.e. up to 6 months of age). The methodology to compile the conceptual maps included brainstorming in the groups of midwives. The focus question was related to the specified content of an educational course designed for first-time mothers. A total of 5 focus groups were organized.

The basic curriculum of the course covers a wide range of educational activities from healthy lifestyle, through practical skills with a child. The midwives however agree that it is not fully possible to learn the practical skills with a child during the prenatal course. Therefore, it would be appropriate to launch postnatal courses that would be generally available and free of charge. The disadvantaged social classes seem however problematic since the paid prenatal courses are not accessible to them. All information provided to the mothers should be in a comprehensive form and individually adjusted. The internet is a source of information which keeps growing in popularity. While it may be a comfortable source, it is problematic due to the high risk of contradicting information. Therefore, the need to teach the mothers critical thinking and understanding of medical information is increasing in importance. The paper refers to several examples of good practice in the Czech Republic.