Impact of the LINE-Based Health Literacy Program on Health Behaviors and Gestational Weight Gain in Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Being overweight or obese pre-pregnancy or during pregnancy is a significant risk factor affecting maternal and fetal health. Therefore, pregnant women in this group require specific care to prevent adverse outcomes.  A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the Health Literacy Program on health behaviors and gestational weight gain among pregnant women who were overweight or obese, which was delivered via a LINE official account. The sample consisted of such women attending an antenatal clinic of a general hospital in southern Thailand. The experimental group received the health literacy program in addition to routine nursing care for eight weeks (n = 30), while the control group received only routine nursing care (n = 30). The study was conducted in the control group first, followed by the experimental group. Data were collected using a General Information Questionnaire and the Health Behavior Assessment Tool for Overweight or Obese Pregnant Women. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test. The findings indicated that, following the intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher mean health behavior scores than at baseline, whereas the control group showed no change. In addition, the proportion of pregnant women who were overweight or obese who achieved gestational weight gain according to standard criteria was significantly greater in the experimental group compared with the control group. Therefore, the program is recommended as a guideline for antenatal care in this population, with further evaluation warranted in larger and more diverse settings.