Currently submitted to: JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Date Submitted: Nov 9, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Pathways to Prevention: Partner Support as a Key Moderator in the Health Literacy-Self-Efficacy in Preterm Birth Self-Management Among Primigravidas
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
Maternal health literacy plays a critical role in promoting maternal well-being and preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet limited studies have focused on primigravida women, particularly in low-resource settings like Egypt. The interplay between health literacy, partner support, and self-efficacy in preventing preterm birth is underexplored. Understanding these relationships is crucial for informing interventions that enhance maternal health outcomes.
Objective:
Aim of the Study This study aims to examine the moderating role of partner support in the relationship between maternal health literacy and self-management self-efficacy in preventing preterm birth among primigravida women.
Methods:
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a two-stage random sampling approach, following the STROBE guidelines, with 288 primigravida women. Data collection tools included the Maternal Health Literacy Inventory in Pregnancy (MHLIP), Partner Support Scale, Self-Management Self-Efficacy Scale for Premature Birth Prevention (SMSE-PBP), and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analyses were utilized.
Results:
Results:
Participants exhibited moderate health literacy, excelling in health knowledge. Partner support strongly correlated with self-efficacy (r = 0.45, p < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that health knowledge and partner support were significant predictors of self-efficacy (R² = 0.47, p < 0.001). Age, education level, and the number of antenatal visits were significant predictors of health literacy (R² = 0.39, p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Conclusion: Maternal health literacy, partner support, and self-efficacy are crucial for positive pregnancy outcomes. Antenatal care should integrate these factors through targeted, culturally appropriate interventions, particularly in primary healthcare settings.
Citation
