(ÚNKP-23-4-II) Funder: Ministry for Innovation and Technology
Background/Objectives: To support women’s informed decisions and reproductive self-care,
confident reproductive health-related knowledge is needed, supported by adequate health
literacy (HL). No corresponding survey has been carried out in Hungary on inequalities
to provide information addressing education. Materials and Methods: In the current
cross-sectional online survey, 301 women of reproductive age (27.16 ± 0.36 years)
were asked with the Hungarian versions of validated and standardised questionnaires
about reproductive knowledge on hormones, ovulation, menstrual cycle, pregnancy signs
and birth control (Knowledge of Female Body Scale—KFB), and HL (Brief Health Literacy
Screening Tool—BRIEF). Spearman correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses
were utilised, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. IBM SPSS version 28.0 (IBM
SPSS, Armonk, NY, USA: IBM Corp.) and G*Power (version 3.1.9.7; Heinrich-Heine-Universität
Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany) software. The STROBE checklist was followed. The
Clinical Trial Registry Nr. is NCT06146673. Results: The KFB composite score was high
(20.01 ± 2.33); 86.374% had “high knowledge”. Still, lacking information was identified
for the mechanisms of certain contraceptive methods and early physical signs of pregnancy.
A significant difference was also found in the KFB scores in the case of higher age
(p = 0.019), higher education level (p = 0.018) and previous live birth (p = 0.028).
A positive correlation was found between KFB and HL (p < 0.001), education (p = 0.005),
and age (p = 0.021). A multiple regression analysis (R2 = 0.087, p < 0.001) indicated
that both HL (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.003) are potential positive predictors of
adequate reproductive knowledge, whereas induced abortion (p = 0.013) might serve
as an inverse predictor. Conclusions: Inequalities in women’s knowledge about their
reproductive system and HL were found, and it was significantly the lowest in their
highest conception probability age. Therefore, in addition to targeted education,
HL also needs improvement.
