Adult Functional Health Literacy and its Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aims: Health literacy (HL) can affect individual health, health communication anderror in taking medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the level of HL and associated factorsamong Iranian adults.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۲۴۰ participants over ۱۸ years of age referring to health centersin Hamadan, west of Iran in ۲۰۱۵ were selected by multistage random sampling. HL was assessedby the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). The questionnaire was completed by atrained interviewer. The independent variables were structural and intermediate social factors basedon the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH). Data were analyzed by using IBM SPSSversion ۲۲.Results: Average age of the participants was ۳۰.۸۸ ±۷.۳۸ years and ۷۵.۴% of the them were female. Thetotal score of HL was ۶۴.۵۸ ±۱۶.۷۱ (range: ۲۳.۸۲-۹۸.۹۸). Overall, ۳۱.۷% (n = ۷۶) of the participantshad adequate HL level, ۳۲.۵% (n = ۷۸) had borderline HL level and ۳۵.۸% (n = ۸۶) had inadequateHL level. Additionally, participants with higher educational levels had higher HL scores than thosewith lower educational levels (P < ۰.۰۰۱). HL score was significantly higher in males than in females(P = ۰.۰۱۷).Conclusion: HL level seems to be inadequate among Iranian adults in the west of Iran. Moreover,enhancing social determinants such as educational level seems to increase HL. The results highlightedthe necessity for change and improvement in adults’ HL.

Keywords:

Adults , Health literacy , Health promotion , Iran , Social Determinant