Health Literacy Among Expectant Fathers: The Role of Nurses in Antenatal Care Unit
Keywords:
Health Literacy, Expectant Fathers, Antenatal Care NurseAbstract
Expectant fathers are required to face situations filled with pressure and challenges during their partner’s pregnancy. In addition to taking care of their own health, they also play a vital role in supporting and caring for the health of their pregnant partner and the unborn child. Therefore, having appropriate knowledge and the ability to respond to health-related needs is essential. Health literacy is thus crucial for expectant fathers, enabling them to adjust and effectively manage their new role. Health literacy refers to an individual’s knowledge and ability to meet health-related needs appropriately. It comprises four key components 1) Access to health information – the ability to search for and obtain relevant health-related information 2) Understanding health information – the ability to interpret and comprehend the content of the health information received 3) Appraising health information – the ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate the quality, credibility, and relevance of the information 4) Applying health information – the ability to appropriately apply the received information to take care of one’s own health.
Professional nurses working in antenatal care units are responsible for caring for pregnant women and play an important role in encouraging expectant fathers to engage in the caregiving process. Therefore, it is essential that these nurses possess knowledge and understanding of the level of health literacy among expectant fathers. Such understanding will enable them to promote, support, and provide appropriate guidance, thereby helping expectant fathers become physically, mentally, and cognitively prepared to care for themselves, their partners, and their unborn children appropriately.
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