The relationship between health and media literacy among pregnant women

he research was carried out in the cross-sectional and relational screening model with the aim of the relationship between health literacy and media literacy in pregnant women. The research was carried out in the outpatient clinics of two hospitals under the Bolu'da Provincial Health Directorate. The sample of the study was composed of 369 pregnant women who applied to obstetrics outpatient clinics. The research data were collected with the introductory information form, Health Literacy Scale, Media Literacy Level Determination Scale. The evaluation of the data included number, percentage, average, standard deviation, t-test in independent groups, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The average score of the health literacy scale of the pregnancies is 112, 28±16, 79, the average score of the media literacy scale is 72, 21±12, 93. Accordingly, pregnant women are sufficiently health literate and good level media literate. A positive correlation was found between the health literacy and media literacy scale score averages of the pregnancies (p<0,001). Factors that predict the health literacy of pregnancies include age, education status, working status, gestational week, planned pregnancy, regularly go to health check, etc, health channel monitoring and internet usage frequency (p<0,001). These variables accounted for 75.7% of health literacy. The factors that tired the media literacy of the participant group were education status, income level, pregnancy planning, health channel follow-up and frequency of using the internet (p<0,05). These variables accounted for 77.1% of media literacy. Access to accessible and accurate resources should be supported yo increase health and media literacy in pregnant women. Pregnancies should be encouraged to be planned, their participation in antenatal education programs should be supported, and training should be provided to increase the level of health literacy. At the same time, training on health and media literacy can be planned according to the trimester of pregnant women.