This analytical cohort research study was designed to determine the relationship between health literacy and pure breastfeeding practice among primigravida mother subscribing to the maternal health services from the LGU-run birthing clinics of Zamboanga City. There were a total of 82 respondents enrolled in this study. All were primigravida and on their third trimester. They also had previous prenatal visits at the LGU-run birthing clinics. Excluded from the study were those who failed to follow-up after giving birth or those who have not yet given birth during the conduct of this study. This study utilized four tools: a questionnaire on knowledge and application; questionnaire for comprehension; a questionnaire for actual practices on breastfeeding, andan observational checklist for the presence of milk formula feeding. The results show more than half (52.4%) of the primigravida had adequate health literacy and the other half (47.6%) had either marginal or inadequate health literacy. The actual pure breastfeeding practice rate was at 35.3 percent.Only 4.3 percent of the primigravida with inadequate health literacy practiced pure breastfeeding as compared to the 51.1 percent of the primigravida with adequate health literacy that practiced pure breastfeeding.It was also shown that a significant relationship exist between health literacy and actual breastfeeding practice (p=0.00). Further univariate analysis identified that adequate health literacy (RR = 2.85; p=0.00; CI = 1.37 – 5.93) and the age group of 21-25 (RR=2.25; p=0.00; CI = 1.27 – 3.99) were predictive factors for pure breastfeeding practices. Thus, the higher the health literacy of the primigravida mother, the more likely the primigravida mother would practice pure breastfeeding.

Keyword: Health literacy Birthing clinics