RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to define the knowledge level among postpartum women affected by gestational diabetes and identify its association with women's sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. DESIGN AND SETTING: a cross-sectional comparative study was conducted. Data collection took place in a single university hospital in the German speaking part of Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: a total of 107 postpartum women diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the current pregnancy completed a gestational diabetes mellitus specific knowledge questionnaire (GDMKQ) in German or English in their postpartum period. Further, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected. RESULTS: Women were between 24 and 45 years old, 56.1% had an academic degree, 60.7% were migrant women coming mainly from other European countries, 17.8% had a previous history of gestational diabetes, and 31.8% had a family history of diabetes. As measured with the GDMKQ, women with a higher educational level obtained higher scores and therefore showed a better knowledge level about gestational diabetes compared to women with primary and secondary educational levels (M 13.3 vs M 11.1 and 12.5; χ2 (2) = 13.003, p = .002). In addition, women with a previous history of gestational diabetes also reached higher scores compared to women with no history of gestational diabetes (M 13.6 vs M 12.5, Z = - 2.278, p = .023). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Even if the knowledge status among women attending this single Swiss hospital is presently very good, a lower educational level was associated with a lower knowledge level and identified as the main factor to hinder women's comprehension of gestational diabetes. More individually tailored consultations by health care professionals may serve to meet women's needs more adequately and support them better in the understanding of their condition.
