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Empowerment interventions significantly improve health literacy in pregnant women, meta-analysis findsEmpowerment Programs May Improve Health Literacy for Pregnant Women
MidwiferyPublished August 6, 2026Study authors: Cheng Linan, Chong Mei Chan, Che Chong Chin, Liu YanjiaPubMed ↗DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Sofia Müller, MD · Lifespan & Whole-Person Care
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Key Takeaway
Consider empowerment interventions as a potential strategy to improve health literacy in pregnant women, but interpret results cautiously due to low certainty.
This meta-analysis synthesized data from 17 randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of empowerment interventions on health literacy and related outcomes in pregnant women. The analysis focused on three primary outcomes: health literacy, empowerment level, and health behaviors.
For health literacy, the pooled effect size was large (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.75; Z = 5.85; P < 0.001), indicating a significant improvement. Similarly, empowerment level showed a substantial improvement (SMD = 1.92, 95% CI: 0.60 to 3.23; Z = 2.86; P < 0.05), and health behaviors also improved significantly (SMD = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.42 to 1.30; Z = 3.84; P < 0.001).
However, the authors noted substantial heterogeneity across the included trials, which lowers the overall certainty of the evidence. The confidence intervals for empowerment level were particularly wide, suggesting imprecision. Adverse events were not reported, and follow-up duration was not specified.
Given these limitations, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. Empowerment interventions may offer potential benefits for improving maternal health literacy, empowerment, and health behaviors, but further high-quality research is needed to confirm these effects and to identify which intervention components are most effective.
Researchers looked at 17 different trials to see how empowerment interventions affect pregnant women. These programs are designed to give patients more confidence and knowledge regarding their health. The study found that these programs led to significant improvements in health literacy, which is the ability to find and understand health information.
The data also showed that women who participated in these programs reported higher levels of personal empowerment and better health behaviors. These findings suggest that focusing on a woman's sense of agency can help her manage her health more effectively during pregnancy.
It is important to note that the evidence for these results is not very certain because the studies included were quite different from one another. While the results are promising, they are preliminary and may not be consistent across all types of programs. Talk with a healthcare provider to see if these types of support programs are right for your specific needs.
What this means for you:
Empowerment programs may improve health literacy and behaviors in pregnancy, though evidence is currently limited.
Common questions
What are the benefits of empowerment programs for pregnant women?
These programs can significantly improve health literacy, which helps women understand medical information. The study also found that these interventions improved empowerment levels and led to better health behaviors during pregnancy.
How much did health literacy improve in the study?
The analysis of 17 trials showed a significant improvement in health literacy with an effect size of 1.31. This suggests that empowerment programs can be a helpful tool for improving how women process health information.
Is the evidence for these programs very strong?
The overall certainty of the evidence is currently low because the studies included were very different from each other. While the results are positive, they should be viewed as preliminary findings rather than a guaranteed outcome.
BACKGROUND: The role of antenatal interventions empowering pregnant women has been widely documented to improve the health and well-being of both mothers and infants. However, the evidence on the effect of empowerment interventions for pregnant women has not been systematically synthesized.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of empowerment interventions through a systematic assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with an expanded focus on outcomes related to health literacy, empowerment, and health behaviors (Prospero registration CRD 42,024,503,402).
DESIGN: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were conducted across nine databases from inception to May 20, 2025. Randomized controlled trials meeting predefined eligibility criteria were independently screened and extracted by two reviewers. Study quality and risk of bias were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Standardized mean differences were synthesized using random-effects models to estimate the effects of empowerment interventions on pregnant women.
FINDINGS: A total of 17 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The meta-analysis demonstrated that empowerment interventions significantly improved key outcomes in pregnant women, including health literacy (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87 to 1.75; Z = 5.85; P < 0.001), empowerment level (SMD = 1.92; 95% CI: 0.60 to 3.23; Z = 2.86; P < 0.05), and health behaviors (SMD = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.42 to 1.30; Z = 3.84; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Empowerment interventions show potential benefit for improving maternal health literacy, empowerment, and health behaviors, though findings should be interpreted with caution given substantial heterogeneity and low overall certainty of evidence. The preliminary benefits suggest that further research is warranted, including rigorous evaluations of integrated digital tools to enhance reach and engagement.
