Researchers in Turkey studied 716 pregnant women to understand how well they understood health information and whether they felt ready to care for their newborns. Women who had more education, lived in cities, and learned about baby care ahead of time felt more prepared. The study found that pregnant women who understood health information better also felt more confident about keeping their babies clean and healthy. These findings suggest that teaching pregnant women about health and baby care before delivery can help them become better prepared parents.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether pregnant women understood health information and felt ready to keep their newborns clean and healthy
  • Who participated: 716 pregnant women aged 18-50 years visiting a hospital in Konya, Turkey between January and July 2023
  • Key finding: Pregnant women who understood health information better also felt more confident and prepared to care for their babies’ hygiene and cleanliness
  • What it means for you: If you’re pregnant, taking time to learn about baby care and health information before delivery may help you feel more confident as a new parent. This is especially helpful if you can access educational classes or resources.

The Research Details

This study looked at a group of pregnant women at one point in time (called a snapshot study) rather than following them over months or years. Researchers asked 716 pregnant women questions about their background (like education level and where they lived) and gave them two special questionnaires. One questionnaire measured how well they understood health information, and another measured how ready they felt to care for their baby’s cleanliness and hygiene. The researchers then looked for patterns—did women with more education understand health information better? Did women who felt more prepared also understand health better? This type of study is quick and affordable but only shows a picture at one moment in time.

Understanding how prepared pregnant women feel is important because confident, knowledgeable mothers are more likely to keep their babies healthy. By identifying which women need more support or education, hospitals and doctors can provide better help before babies are born. This approach helps researchers understand real-world situations in actual clinics where pregnant women receive care.

This study included a large number of women (716), which makes the findings more reliable. The researchers used tested questionnaires that other scientists have used before. However, the study only looked at women in one hospital in Turkey, so the results may not apply to all pregnant women everywhere. The study was done at one point in time, so we can’t know if these patterns stay the same over time or if learning about baby care actually changes how women care for their babies.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that pregnant women who understood health information better also felt more ready to care for their newborns’ cleanliness and hygiene. Women with higher education levels (high school or college) understood health information better than those with less education. Women living in cities understood health information better than those living in rural areas. Women in nuclear families (just parents and children) understood health information better than those in larger extended families. Women who reported healthy lifestyle habits, like eating well and exercising, also had better health understanding and felt more prepared for baby care. Women who already had children felt more ready for newborn hygiene care, probably because they had experience. Women who had received education about baby care before the study also felt more prepared.

The study found that healthy eating habits were linked to both better health understanding and feeling more ready for baby care. Women who had previous children felt significantly more confident about newborn hygiene, suggesting that experience matters. The connection between understanding health information and feeling ready for baby care was strong and consistent across different groups of women.

This research supports what other studies have shown: when people understand health information better, they make better health decisions. Previous research has shown that education and health knowledge help parents care for their children better. This study confirms that this pattern holds true for pregnant women preparing for newborn care, adding to our understanding of how important preparation and education are during pregnancy.

This study only looked at women in one hospital in Turkey, so the results may not apply to pregnant women in other countries or cultures with different healthcare systems. The study was done at one moment in time, so we don’t know if these patterns continue after babies are born or if they change over time. The study shows that health understanding and readiness are connected, but it doesn’t prove that better health understanding actually causes women to care for babies better—only that they go together. Women who volunteered for the study may have been more interested in health than women who didn’t participate, which could affect the results.

The Bottom Line

Pregnant women should try to learn about newborn care, hygiene, and health before their babies are born. This can be done through prenatal classes, books, websites, or conversations with doctors and nurses. Healthcare providers should offer educational programs during pregnancy that teach about baby care, cleanliness, and health. These programs appear to help pregnant women feel more confident and prepared. (Confidence level: Moderate—the study shows a connection but doesn’t prove that education directly improves baby care.)

All pregnant women should care about this research, especially first-time mothers who may feel uncertain about caring for a newborn. Healthcare providers, hospitals, and prenatal clinics should use these findings to improve their educational programs. Women with less education or living in rural areas may benefit most from targeted educational support. This research is less relevant to women who already have children and feel confident about baby care.

You may start feeling more confident about baby care within weeks of starting prenatal education classes. The benefits are most likely to appear before your baby is born, helping you feel ready on delivery day. Long-term benefits for your baby’s health may develop over months as you apply what you’ve learned.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your prenatal education activities: log which baby care topics you’ve learned about each week (bathing, diaper changes, umbilical cord care, etc.) and rate your confidence level (1-10) for each topic
  • Use the app to set weekly learning goals, such as ‘Watch one video about newborn bathing’ or ‘Read one article about keeping baby clean.’ Check off completed topics and watch your confidence grow as delivery approaches
  • Create a ‘Baby Care Readiness’ checklist in the app covering key hygiene topics. Review it monthly during pregnancy and again after baby arrives to track which areas you feel most and least confident about, then seek additional resources for weak areas

This research shows a connection between health understanding and feeling ready for baby care, but it does not provide medical advice. Always follow the specific guidance of your doctor, midwife, or healthcare provider for your individual pregnancy and newborn care. If you have concerns about your pregnancy or your ability to care for your newborn, speak with your healthcare provider. This study was conducted in Turkey and may not apply to all populations or healthcare settings. Consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your prenatal care or newborn care plans.