Effects of a Mobile Application-Based Health Education Program on Health Literacy in Pregnant Women

Authors

  • Thitiporn Suwanampa Lecturer, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science
  • Tasaneewan Purksametanan Lecturer, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60099/jtnmc.v38i01.260306

Keywords:

health literacy, mobile application-based health education, pregnant women

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile applications play an important role in providing health education to pregnant women by increasing their access to, understanding of, and ability to obtain accurate health information, which in turn can promote health literacy. There are studies describing the use of mobile applications in this context; however, research examining effects of mobile application-based health education on health literacy remains limited. 

Objective: To compare health literacy in pregnant women before and after the program and compare health literacy between control and experimental groups. Design: A quasi-experimental design with two-group, pretest and posttest 

Methodology: Through purposive sampling, the sample of 50 were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: 1) Thai primigravida women aged between 12-40 years, who were receiving care at the antenatal care units of the three hospitals in a south-central province, and 2) Own a smart phone with an Andriod operating system. The participants were randomly assigned to either experimental or control group with equal numbers in each group (n = 25). The research instruments consisted of two parts: 1) a mobile application-based health education program, and 2) data collection instruments, including a personal data questionnaire and a health literacy questionnaire for pregnant women. The validity and reliability of the instruments were assessed and revealed a content validity index (CVI) of .88 for the program and a Cronbach›s alpha coefficient of .99 for the Health Literacy Questionnaire. Data collection was completed first for the control group, followed by the experimental group. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, and Paired t-test. 

Results: After the program, the experimental group (M = 188.48, SD = 19.18) had health literacy higher than before the program (M = 168.36, SD = 24.93; t =4.722, p = .01). The experimental group had health literacy higher than the control group (M = 174.16, SD= 18.50) with statistical significance (t =0.359, p = .01). 

Recommendation: Mobile application-based health education can improve health literacy among pregnant women. Therefore, it is recommended that health education be promoted through mobile application in pregnant women.

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Published

2023-03-21

How to Cite

1.
Suwanampa T, Purksametanan T. Effects of a Mobile Application-Based Health Education Program on Health Literacy in Pregnant Women. J Thai Nurse midwife Counc [Internet]. 2023 Mar. 21 [cited 2024 Apr. 24];38(01):98-111. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TJONC/article/view/260306

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Research Articles