The relationship between pregnant women's e-health literacy and their attitudes toward sexuality

In today's technology age, pregnant women turn toward e-health literacy for their every type of information needs. E-health literacy is one of the easiest and fastest sources to obtain information in areas such as sexuality, which cannot be comfortably talked about. The study was conducted to identify the relationship between pregnant women's e-health literacy and their attitudes toward sexuality. This is descriptive and correlational research. The research was conducted with the participation of 297 pregnant women who applied to the Maternity Polyclinic of Faculty of Medicine of Necmettin Erbakan University and met the criteria to be included in the research. The survey form, the e-Health Literacy Scale, and the Attitude Toward Sexuality During Pregnancy Scale were used in the collection of research data. The data were collected by the researcher from 1 June 2022 to 1 August 2022. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, median and standard deviation), the t-test, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the one-way analysis of variance, the Pearson correlation, and the multiple linear regression were utilized in the analysis of research data. Of all participant pregnant women, 45,8% were aged 26-35 years, 42,8% were primary school graduates, and 89,2% were not working. It was found that 76,4% of the pregnant women continued to have sexual relationships during pregnancy and 81,5% of them were satisfied with their sexuality. In the research, it was discerned that the mean of pregnant women's e-Health Literacy Scale scores was 25,28±7,15 points while the mean of their Attitude Toward Sexuality During Pregnancy Scale scores was 118,87±16,73 points. There is a weak positive relationship between e-health literacy and attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy. During prenatal visits, health professionals should find out about pregnant women's e-health literacy levels and evaluate pregnant women's attitudes toward sexuality. Also, health professionals should plan the consultancy service well-suited to each pregnant woman's situation and should provide pregnant women with holistic care. Keywords: Attitude, Ehealth, Health literacy, Pregnancy, Sexuality.