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Journals / Ebelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 9 Issue: 2

The Relationship Between Health Literacy During Pregnancy and Toilet Habits and Urinary Tract Symptoms

Gebelikte Sağlık Okuryazarlığının Tuvalet Kullanım Alışkanlıkları ve Üriner Sistem Semptomları ile İlişkisi

Fatma Keskin Töre(Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0001-5790-1705
Cansu Ağralı(OSMANIYE KORKUT ATA UNIVERSITY, OSMANİYE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL)0000-0002-9923-0521
Gülçin Nacar(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-1427-9922
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-07-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that health literacy during pregnancy is associated with toilet behavior habits and urinary tract symptoms.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal health literacy, toilet behavior habits, and urinary tract symptoms during pregnancy.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 200 pregnant women.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that health literacy during pregnancy is associated with toilet behavior habits and urinary tract symptoms.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Health literacy · Pregnancy · Toilet habits

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal health literacy, toilet behavior habits, and urinary tract symptoms during pregnancy. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 200 pregnant women. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Toileting Behavior–Women’s Elimination Behaviors Scale, the Maternal Health Literacy Inventory Scale in Pregnancy, and the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Index. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The potential mediating effect of toilet behavior habits on the relationship between health literacy and the severity of urinary symptoms was examined using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro (v5.0). Results: The mediation analysis (Hayes PROCESS Model 4) revealed that health literacy during pregnancy was associated with healthier toilet behavior habits (β=−.244, p =.001), and these habits were associated with urinary symptom severity (β=.333, p <.001). Health literacy also independently reduced the severity of urinary symptoms regardless of toilet behavior habits (β=−.144, p =.034). The indirect effect confirmed via bootstrapping (β=−.081, 95% CI [−.036, −.011]) supported the mediating role of toilet behavior habits. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that health literacy during pregnancy is associated with toilet behavior habits and urinary tract symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of assessing maternal health literacy and promoting healthy toilet behavior habits during antenatal care.

Özet

Amaç: Bu araştırmada, gebelikte sağlık okuryazarlığının tuvalet kullanım alışkanlıkları ve üriner sistem semptomları ile ilişkisi incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Metot: Tanımlayıcı ve ilişki arayıcı tipteki çalışma 200 gebe ile yürütülmüştür. Araştırma verilerinin toplanmasında, Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Tuvalet Davranışları- Kadınların Boşaltım Davranışları Ölçeği, Gebelikte Maternal Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği ve Bristol Kadın Alt Üriner Sistem Semptomları İndeksi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma verilerinin istatistiksel analizinde; tanımlayıcı istatistikler, Pearson korelasyon analizi ve sağlık okuryazarlığı ile üriner semptom şiddeti arasındaki ilişkide tuvalet alışkanlıklarının olası aracılık etkisinin analizinde PROCESS v5.0 makrosunda Model 4 kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Aracılık analizi (Hayes PROCESS Model 4) gebelikte sağlık okuryazarlığının tuvalet alışkanlıklarını iyileştirdiğini (β=–0.244, p=.001) ve bu alışkanlıkların daha yüksek üriner semptom şiddetiyle ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir (β=0.333, p <.001). Sağlık okuryazarlığı, tuvalet alışkanlıklarından bağımsız olarak da üriner semptom şiddetini azaltmıştır (β=–0.14, p=.034). Bootstrap ile doğrulanan dolaylı etki (β=–0.08, %95 GA = –0.036 –0.011) tuvalet alışkanlıklarının aracılık rolünü desteklemiştir. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, gebelikte sağlık okuryazarlığının tuvalet kullanım alışkanlıkları ve üriner sistem semptomları ile ilişkisi olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuç sağlık profesyonellerinin gebelerin sağlık okuryazarlık düzeylerini göz ardı etmemesi gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Töre, F. K., Ağralı, C., Nacar, G. (2026). The Relationship Between Health Literacy During Pregnancy and Toilet Habits and Urinary Tract Symptoms. Ebelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Volume: 9 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.62425/esbder.1741297

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