Faculty Collaboration Database

A Scoping Review on Nutrition Knowledge and Nutrition Literacy Among Pregnant Women and the Prevalence of Pregnancy Complications and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Nutrients 2025 Nov 06;17(21)

Date

11/13/2025

Pubmed ID

41228559

Pubmed Central ID

PMC12609537

DOI

10.3390/nu17213488

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-105021553427 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

Background: Proper nutrition supports maternal and fetal health. Gaps in nutritional knowledge (NK) and nutritional literacy (NL) can affect maternal and fetal health. NK refers to knowing facts and processes about nutrition, while NL is a broader component that includes competencies and skills needed to obtain, understand, and apply nutrition information to make dietary decisions. NL and NK limitations may contribute to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This scoping review aims to understand the relationship between NK, NL, and pregnancy outcomes, offering insights into areas for future nutrition-based interventions. Methods: Seven databases were searched for studies assessing NK and NL among pregnant women. A total of 5080 articles were identified, with 4249 retained after removing duplicates. Following title and abstract screening, 18 articles underwent full-text review, and 11 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted, analyzed, and categorized into nine key themes. Results: All eleven studies employed survey-based methods; ten focused on NK and one on NL. Overall, NK was generally low. The evidence for an association between NK or NL and pregnancy outcomes was limited. Education, income, occupation, and family influence were identified as key factors influencing the NK and NL of pregnant women. Education and income levels were identified as having the most significant impact on NK overall. Only one study accessed the relationship between NK and adverse birth and neonatal outcomes, and this only included HDP and preterm labor. Also, only one out of the eleven studies was conducted in the US. Conclusions: In this review, we found that NK and NL among pregnant women was generally low, with limited evidence linking it to pregnancy outcomes; education and income emerged as the most influential factors of NK and NL. Future studies in high-income countries are recommended to assess the association between NL and adverse maternal outcomes, especially GDM.

Author List

Oladebo T, Bobholz F, Folivi K, Dickson-Gomez J, Anguzu R, Lopez AA, Akinola I, Olson J, Palatnik A

Authors

Ronald Anguzu PhD, MD Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jessica Olson PhD Director, Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Anna Palatnik MD Associate Professor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Literacy
Humans
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Nutritional Status
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications
Pregnancy Outcome
Prevalence