Health literacy isn’t just about reading health pamphlets; it’s about understanding, processing, and using health information to make informed decisions. During pregnancy, this skill is especially vital because every decision—what to eat, when to seek medical care, whether to take certain medications—directly affects both the mother and her baby.

For women with limited proficiency in the dominant language of their country, low health literacy creates barriers to accessing care, understanding prenatal risks, and following medical advice. Studies have linked low maternal health literacy to poor pregnancy outcomes, including increased risks of stillbirth, preterm birth, and postpartum depression. Conversely, improving health literacy has been associated with better health behaviors, such as adherence to prenatal care, proper nutrition, and breastfeeding.

What Did the Research Find?

This systematic review identified three health literacy interventions tailored for linguistically diverse pregnant women. Conducted in Australia and Denmark, these programs varied in design and delivery but shared a common goal: empowering women to navigate pregnancy more confidently. Here’s a closer look:

1. MAMAACT Program (Denmark)
   This intervention paired midwife training with smartphone apps and multilingual leaflets to educate women about warning signs during pregnancy. Available in six languages, the program aimed to reduce disparities in stillbirth rates. While health literacy scores didn’t significantly improve, participants felt more confident recognizing and responding to pregnancy complications—a small but vital step toward better outcomes.
2. Culturally Designed Parent Classes (Australia)
   Targeting Bangla- and Mandarin-speaking mothers, these classes were co-designed with bilingual researchers and community members. Covering topics like adjusting to motherhood and managing childhood illnesses, the sessions improved health literacy across multiple domains. The secret to their success? Trust-building and cultural sensitivity, facilitated by bilingual community researchers who acted as cultural and linguistic bridges.
3. Animated Educational Videos (Australia)
   This intervention used user-tested posters and animated videos in Arabic and Dari to educate refugee and migrant women about prenatal care. Though still under evaluation, the program prioritized community input during development, ensuring that content was both accessible and culturally relevant.

Why Are These Interventions So Rare?

Despite their promise, health literacy interventions for linguistically diverse populations remain scarce. Challenges include limited funding, language barriers in study design, and the need for culturally tailored approaches. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of these programs complicates the measurement of outcomes, making it harder to justify broader implementation.

The review also highlighted a key gap: while translating materials into multiple languages is critical, true health literacy goes beyond language proficiency. Women must also be empowered to navigate unfamiliar healthcare systems and advocate for their needs—a task that requires systemic change, not just individual effort.

Practical Steps Toward Health Equity

For healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities, this research offers actionable insights:

• Invest in Co-Design: Involving community members and bilingual facilitators ensures that interventions resonate with their intended audience. Programs like the culturally tailored parent classes demonstrate how trust and inclusivity can drive engagement and outcomes.
• Expand Interpreter Services: Beyond translating words, interpreters can bridge cultural gaps and build trust between patients and providers.
• Incorporate Digital Tools: Apps and videos offer scalable ways to deliver health information in multiple languages. However, they should be complemented with face-to-face interactions to address individual concerns.
• Address Systemic Barriers: Health literacy programs must tackle broader issues like transportation access, insurance coverage, and fear of deportation, which disproportionately affect immigrant and refugee populations.

Real-World Impact: A Hypothetical Scenario

Let’s consider Layla, a Bangladeshi mother expecting her first child in Australia. Layla speaks limited English and feels overwhelmed by the healthcare system. Through a culturally tailored parent class, she learns in her native Bangla about managing gestational diabetes—a condition she didn’t fully understand before. The class also connects her to a bilingual community researcher who helps her navigate healthcare appointments. By the end of her pregnancy, Layla feels empowered, informed, and supported—a stark contrast to the isolation she felt just months earlier.

Now imagine the ripple effect: Layla’s improved health literacy benefits not only her and her baby but also her extended family and community, creating a cycle of empowerment and education.

Let’s Talk About It

Health literacy is more than a buzzword—it’s a lifeline for pregnant women navigating complex healthcare systems. How can we ensure that no one falls through the cracks?

• Have you or someone you know faced language barriers during pregnancy? How did it impact the experience?
• What role should technology play in improving health literacy, and where do you see its limits?
• How can healthcare systems better involve communities in designing and delivering interventions?

Join the conversation in the comments or share your thoughts on social media. Together, we can advocate for a world where every mother, regardless of language or background, has the knowledge and support she needs for a healthy pregnancy.