Health Literacy Among Iranian Adults: Findings From a Nationwide Population-Based Survey in 2015; [Les Connaissances En Sante Chez Les Adultes Iraniens: Resultats D’Une Enquete En Population Nationale Menee En 2015] Publisher Pubmed



Haghdoost AA¹ ; Karamouzian M^{2, 3} ; Jamshidi E⁴ ; Sharifi H² ; Rakhshani F⁵ ; Mashayekhi N⁶ ; Rassafiani H⁷ ; Harofteh F⁸ ; Shiri M⁹ ; Aligol M¹⁰ ; Sotudeh H¹¹ ; Solimanian A¹² ; Tavakoli F² ; Iranpour A² Show Affiliations
Source: Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Published:2019

Abstract

Background: Health literacy is one of the most important determinants of noncommunicable diseases prevention. Health literacy is associated with elevated risks for poorer access to care, adverse health outcomes, and increased hospitalization and health costs. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of health literacy among the general adult population in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study during 2014-2015 with a multistage cluster sampling approach, we administered a pilot-tested standardized questionnaire to assess different domains of health literacy (i.e., reading, comprehension, communication/decision-making and Interpretation/judgment skills, individual and social empowerment, health information access and health information use) among 8439 (3935 males) individuals aged 18-60 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression method using SPSS (20) were applied to identify the factors associated with health literacy among Iranian adults. Results: The mean health literacy level was 10.2±3.8 (out of 20). Only 18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.15-18.78) of the participants had adequate health literacy, while 45.7% (95% CI: 44.64-46.78) had inadequate, and the 36.3% (95% CI: 35.21-37.33) had moderate health literacy. In the adjusted linear regression model, education level (the smallest β = 4.35, P < 0.001), age (β = 0.01, P = 0.002), female sex (β = 0.45, P < 0.001), residency in rural areas (β = 0.26, P < 0.001) and having permanent job (β = 1.03, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with more health literacy. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted that the Iranian adult population has an insufficient level of health literacy, which calls for comprehensive education planning to improve the levels, with special attention to certain subpopulations (e.g. illiterate populations) and domains (e.g. individual empowerment). © World Health Organization (WHO) 2019.