Nurses’ Role in Sexual Health Literacy Development for Adolescent Mothers

Abstract

Lack of health knowledge has an impact on health, resulting in insufficient levels of health literacy. This reflects a healthcare system and access to health service information that is more complex than a certain population can access and benefit from, particularly among adolescent mothers, who are a population group with limitations in education. Pregnancy often interrupts their education, which may hinder their success in fulfilling the role of motherhood. Professional nurses, being close to them, can assess, screen, and enhance the level of sexual and reproductive health knowledge in postpartum adolescent mothers to a sufficient level, enabling them to take care of themselves and their infants effectively.

The development of sexual health literacy in postpartum adolescent mothers can be achieved by applying the roles of professional nurses in all four dimensions, in conjunction with Nutbeam's (2008) framework, which consists of six important components. These components are as follows: 1) Access skills: Having reliable skills to access health information and services, 2) Cognitive skills: Having the ability to interpret and understand knowledge received in order to prevent repeat pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, 3) Communication skills: Having the ability to appropriately seek advice and consult with nurses or medical professionals regarding postpartum issues, 4) Decision-making skills: Involves choosing self-care methods for both oneself and the infant that align with personal values and genuine needs, 5) Self-management skills: Having the ability to conduct postpartum examinations and use appropriate contraception methods for oneself, and 6) Media literacy: Having the ability to distinguish accurate information from misleading information and effectively apply it to self-care and postpartum infant care.