Maternal and infant health literacy status and influencing factors in pregnant women in Chongqing, China: a cross-sectional study

Background Maternal and infant health literacy (MIHL) has an important impact on the health of mothers and infants. This study aimed to investigate the level of MIHL and its influencing factors in pregnant women in Chongqing. Methods This cross-sectional study collected data between September 2023 and December 2023. Three hospitals with high cooperation and 150 to 200 participants were selected from each district. The proportion of samples in the first, second, and third trimesters was 1:1:1. A sociodemographic questionnaire was used to investigate the demographic and obstetric characteristics, and the level of MIHL was measured using a maternal and child health literacy questionnaire. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the effects of demographic and obstetric factors on the level of MIHL. Results A total of 1025 women participated in this study. The proportion of pregnant women with MIHL was 7.9%, with a higher level in the essential knowledge dimension. However, there was no significant difference in the level of MIHL in the three subscales ( P  = 0.070). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the level of MIHL in different trimesters ( P  = 0.058), but with a higher level in the first trimester (9.94%) and a lower level in the second trimester (5.19%). Higher educational level (OR = 3.611, 95%CI = 1.489–8.755), worries about the effect of pregnancy on work (OR = 1.899, 95%CI = 1.172–3.078), and attendance at pregnancy school (OR = 3.153, 95%CI = 1.625–6.116) were favorable factors for the level of MIHL. Participants from town groups (OR = 0.264, 95CI = 0.159–0.439), ethnic minorities (OR = 0.213, 95CI = 0.075–0.607), and abnormal results of prenatal screening (OR = 0.288, 95CI = 0.087–0.953) were risk factors for the level of MIHL. Conclusions The MIHL among pregnant women was at low level in Chongqing, and it was positively associated with higher educational level, worries about the effect of pregnancy on work, and attendance at pregnancy school, but was negatively associated with living in town groups, ethnic minorities, and abnormal results of prenatal screening. Based on this evidence, future research could improve the level of MIHL among pregnant women.