PREGNANCY, ALCOHOL-USE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WRITTEN HEALTH-EDUCATION MATERIALS

This study was conducted to determine whether health education materia ls were more effective when written at a lower rather than a higher re ading level. Women (n = 252) who visited public health maternity clini cs selected either English- or Spanish-language health materials desig ned to discourage alcohol use, depending on whether the women preferre d to read English or Spanish. The materials were written on the third and the 10th-grade reading levels. The women were randomly assigned to receive materials written on one of the two levels. Then participants completed the pre-test, read the hearth education material and were p ost-tested immediately. Among English-speaking participants, the mater ial written at the lower reading revel was shown to be more effective. Whereas among Spanish-speaking participants, test scores were unchang ed after reading either health education material. Overall, we recomme nd that health care providers design or purchase materials that are ea sy-to-read and provide face-to-face counseling about abstaining from a lcohol. Providers should not rely on written materials to communicate important messages when working with pregnant women.