
doi: 10.1111/hsc.13981
pmid: 36039472
Despite unprecedented advancement in educational opportunities and access to information, maternal health literacy (MHL) and health numeracy (HN) skills remain low in North America. By enhancing MHL, the educated civic public-those who have the capacity, skills, and knowledge to apply prose and numerical health information-engages more proactively in public health practice. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the existing empirical evidence on MHL to work toward a better understanding of the practical implications for public health. We explored MHL and HN through the following research question: "How are maternal health literacy and health numeracy conceptualised in public health planning, implementation, and evaluation?" First, we employed a five-stage methodological framework for scoping reviews and used PRISMA-P to systematically identify eligible articles. Then, we used thematic analysis and an inductive approach guided by the research aims to identify themes related to how MHL and HN are conceptualised in empirical studies and developed an evidence table. Finally, two different reviewers coded articles using an inductive approach into six themes. We identified 1733 articles through a systematic search of five databases. After screening all the articles, 52 articles were included for thematic analysis. The final themes were: (i) sociocultural demographics; (ii) self-efficacy; (iii) communication; (iv) information seeking and operationalisation; (v) health status; and (vi) reasoning. The research evidence demonstrated limitations concerning the impact of sociocultural background on a mother's recognition of health problems and the extent of which patient-centred care is culturally and linguistically appropriate. The research evidence revealed an opportunity to address the sociocultural linguistic experience of mothers within public health practice. Our research team supports moving away from the biomedical model of evidence-based medicine and adopting evidence-based practice ensures healthcare providers develop a holistic understanding of the maternal health needs of socioculturally diverse mothers.
Concept Formation, Maternal Health, public health, 610, Nursing, 613, maternal health literacy, United States, Health Literacy, health numeracy, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Humans, Female, scoping review, Public Health, health literacy
Concept Formation, Maternal Health, public health, 610, Nursing, 613, maternal health literacy, United States, Health Literacy, health numeracy, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Humans, Female, scoping review, Public Health, health literacy
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 6 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
