Assessment Of Health Literacy Level In 18-30 Year-Old Adults, An Iranian Experience

Authors

Masoumeh Ansari, *Scientometrics and Publication Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. *Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Follow
Fatemeh Mohammad-moradi, Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Follow
Mehrdad Khaledian, Personal System Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, IranFollow
Maryam Shekofteh, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranFollow
Ali valinejadi, Community Medicine Specialist, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, IranFollow

Date of this Version

Summer 7-2018

Abstract

Objective: Health literacy is knowledge for comprehension, assessment and achievement of health and benefit of it in life finally to health promotion. People, who have little health literacy, have less knowledge about their health condition therefore they don’t take sufficient preventive services instead they receive more hospital and emergency units' services. Identification and promotion of health literacy level is one of the best solutions to increase social health and play important role in making healthy social in future, too.

Design and setting: This descriptive study, about 170 people (ranging from18-30 year-old) who referred to Shemiranat health network in end of June till mid-August 2016. Health literacy data were collected through standard questionnaire that its validity and reliability was proven by Montazeri et al study (2014). Data were analyzed by SPSS ver.21 software and statistical analyses such as independent T-test, ANOVA were used.

Findings: The results showed that internet was the most common way to access information about health (40.4%) and infrequent information source was IVR (1.4%). The mean of health literacy level was estimated as marginal health literacy. There was statistical significant relationship between health literacy level and source of information, age and education level but there was no statistical significant relationship between health literacy level and job and gender.

Conclusion: Thus public awareness and constructing web sites related to health by Health Networks and administrate them will effect on people health promotion.

Keywords: Health Literacy, Shemiranat Health Network, Tehran.