Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Level 3, P Block, 246 Clayton Road, Clatyon, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
Health Promot Int. 2023 Oct 1;38(5). doi: 10.1093/heapro/daad131.
During pregnancy and early fatherhood, men are at higher risk of poor health, exacerbated by low engagement by healthcare services. Yet the transition to fatherhood presents an opportunity for men to improve their health and health behaviours. Health literacy refers to individuals' competence in accessing and applying health information. Poor health literacy is associated with poor health and low help-seeking. The aim of this study was to identify health literacy strengths, needs and profiles among fathers. Men who were expecting a baby ('antenatal') or had become fathers in the past 18 months ('postnatal') were recruited through an international, online paid survey platform. The survey included the nine-scale Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Of 889 survey respondents (n = 416, 46.5% antenatal; n = 473, 53.5% postnatal), 274 (31.0%) were residing in the USA and 239 (27.0%) in the UK. Relatively higher scores were reported for HLQ scales relating to having sufficient information and finding and understanding this information, as well as social support for health. Relatively lower scores were obtained for scales relating to actively managing one's own health and navigating the health care system. Three scale scores were significantly lower among nulliparous than multiparous men. Seven health literacy profiles were identified. In conclusion, while fathers have some health literacy strengths, they also experience some barriers, particularly first-time fathers. Awareness of diverse health literacy profiles among fathers may assist in developing strategies to strengthen health services' capacity to meet fathers' needs and reduce risks to their health at this critical juncture in families' lives.
在怀孕和初为人父期间，男性的健康风险较高，由于医疗服务参与度低，情况更加恶化。然而，成为父亲的转变为男性改善健康和健康行为提供了机会。健康素养是指个人获取和应用健康信息的能力。健康素养差与健康状况不佳和寻求帮助的意愿低有关。本研究旨在确定父亲的健康素养优势、需求和特征。通过一个国际在线付费调查平台，招募了即将迎来婴儿的男性（“产前”）或在过去 18 个月内成为父亲的男性（“产后”）。该调查包括九项健康素养问卷（HLQ）。在 889 名调查受访者（n=416，46.5%为产前；n=473，53.5%为产后）中，274 名（31.0%）居住在美国，239 名（27.0%）居住在英国。报告的 HLQ 量表中，与拥有足够信息和寻找并理解这些信息以及获得健康方面的社会支持相关的量表得分相对较高，而与积极管理自身健康和导航医疗保健系统相关的量表得分相对较低。与多胎男性相比，初为人父的男性在三个量表上的得分显著较低。确定了七个健康素养特征。总之，尽管父亲有一些健康素养优势，但他们也面临一些障碍，尤其是初为人父的男性。了解父亲多样化的健康素养特征可能有助于制定策略，增强卫生服务能力，满足父亲的需求，并降低他们在家庭生活这一关键时期的健康风险。
