Maternal Health Literacy and Continuity of Antenatal Care Among Pregnant Women in Primary Healthcare Settings
Keywords:
Maternal health literacy, Antenatal care, Continuity of care, Pregnant women, Primary healthcareAbstract
Purpose - This study examined the association between maternal health literacy and continuity of antenatal care among pregnant women receiving services in primary healthcare settings.
Methodology - A quantitative cross-sectional study included 180 pregnant women attending three community health centres in Depok City, West Java, Indonesia. Maternal health literacy was assessed across accessing, understanding, appraising, and applying information, while continuity of antenatal care covered relational, management, and informational continuity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression.
Findings - Maternal health literacy was positively correlated with continuity of antenatal care (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, maternal health literacy remained the strongest predictor of continuity (β = 0.44, p < 0.001). Higher education was positively associated with continuity, while travel time exceeding 30 minutes was negatively associated. The model explained 38.5% of the variance.
Implications - Primary healthcare facilities should strengthen health-literacy-responsive communication, consistent follow-up, information continuity, and accessibility throughout antenatal care.
Originality - This study extends prior evidence by examining maternal health literacy against a multidimensional concept of antenatal care continuity rather than focusing only on visit frequency or adherence.
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