Perspectives of women on opportunities and challenges on maternal health literacy in Ghana: a facility-based study

Maternal health literacy (MHL) among pregnant women is identified as a key determinant of maternal health. This study sought to assess pregnant women’s perspectives on opportunities and challenges in maternal health literacy selected ANCs in WA Municipality, Ghana. The study used a qualitative study design to understand pregnant women’s perspectives on health literacy attending antenatal sessions. An in-depth interview guide was used to collect data from the pregnant women and a midwife from each of the selected facilities. We analysed data using the interpretative phenomenological approach. The themes identified included Screening and counselling were clustered to form Antenatal care services (screening and counselling); antenatal care communication (special classes/outreach engagements, images/pictures, online/internet/book and verbal/oral) and maternal health literacy challenges (health facility challenges and socio-cultural challenges. Generally, it was observed that various services, channels of engagements and the environment of pregnant women influence their utilisation of maternal health literacy resources in the study area. The Municipal Health Directorate could consider appropriate timing for the deployment of maternal health information and multiple channels that use both verbal and visual aids that reinforce each other. The planning and implementation of these literacy resources should incorporate the socio-cultural issues of the pregnant women’s environment.