Health literacy in rural and urban populations: A systematic review

Aljassim, Noor; Ostini, Remo

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2020.06.007

Cited by 180 publications

(143 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

129

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Apart from study specific characteristics, the economic status of the country could also play a role in the HL of the population. A systematic review of 19 articles showed that urban populations have higher HL than rural populations [48]. Another systematic review of 54 studies that compared the HL of populations between developed and developing countries concluded that those in developed countries have higher HL than in developing countries [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population

Asharani

Lau

Roystonn

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Health literacy is a key determinant of the public health and health climate of the nation. This study examined the functional health literacy of the nation, factors associated with health literacy, and its relationship with diabetes recognition. This cross-sectional survey recruited participants (N = 2895) who were 18 years and above from a population registry through disproportionate stratified sampling. The Brief Health Literacy Screen and other questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews, in one of the four national languages (English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil). The majority (80.5%) had adequate functional health literacy and were able to recognise symptoms of diabetes correctly (83.5% overall; 83.7% and 82.2% in those with adequate and inadequate health literacy, respectively). Those with inadequate health literacy had a higher incidence of chronic conditions (p < 0.001) compared to those with adequate health literacy in bivariate analysis. The majority of the sample had sufficient levels of physical activity (83.3%), and more than half reported an unhealthy lifestyle (57.4%). Older age, Chinese ethnicity, those who were employed, with lower education (secondary or below), and were married had significantly higher odds of inadequate health literacy. Health literacy was not associated with lifestyle, physical activity, chronic conditions and diabetes recognition. Health literacy interventions should focus on the disadvantaged social groups for improving their health literacy.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population

Asharani

Lau

Roystonn

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We found that the health literacy levels of the three age groups of adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged residents living in rural areas were significantly higher than those in urban areas. This meant that regardless of whether there were differences in health literacy between urban and rural populations, living in rural areas cannot solely explain the differences in health literacy between urban and rural areas, and sociodemographic factors must also play an important role ( 23 , 24 ). Based on the results of this article, to solve the problem of the gap between urban and rural health literacy, we should not only use geographical divisions but also consider sociodemographic and socioeconomic differences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Influencing Factors and Dimensions of Health Literacy in Different Age Groups: Before and After the COVID-19 Era in Chongqing, China

Yang

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Understanding the levels of health literacy among different groups is essential for better public health interventions targeting specific subgroups of the population. Additionally, this article explores the prevalence and influencing factors of the health literacy levels of different age groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods: Multistage stratified cluster random sampling and the Probability Proportion to Size (PPS) method were used to select permanent residents aged 15–69 in Chongqing (54,706) for the questionnaire survey. The survey period is from July 2019 and July 2020. Single-factor analysis and logistic regression models were used to study the relationship between demographics, socioeconomic factors, other independent covariates, and health literacy.Results: The health literacy levels of residents declined with age, and there were significant differences in health literacy levels between age groups (χ2 = 3332.884, P < 0.05). As far as the factors affecting health literacy level are concerned, high education and high income are the protective factors for health literacy level for residents of all ages. For adolescents (OR = 1.383, 95% CI: 1.217–1.571), young adults (OR = 1.232, 95% CI = 1.117–1.358), and middle-aged people (OR = 1.096, 95% CI = 1.017–1.182), residence in rural areas was a protective factor. In terms of the dimensions of health literacy, in particular, elderly health literacy in 2020 in Scientific Health Concepts, Safety and First Aid, Basic Medical Care decreased significantly compared with 2019.Conclusions: For adolescents, young adults, middle-aged people, to solve the problem of urban and rural health quality gap, we should not only use the geographical division, but also consider the social population and socio-economic differences. For the elderly, the following four dimensions of health literacy need to be paid more attention than those of other age: Basic Knowledge and Concepts, Scientific Health Concepts, Safety and First Aid, and Basic Medical Care. A lack of knowledge on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases is the main reason for the recent decline in health literacy. And the health literacy among residents in major public health emergencies is needed.

show abstract

“…While it was beyond the scope of this study to determine the cause, there are a number of plausible explanations. Women with higher levels of education may be better informed about their state of health and therefore more aware that conditions such as hypertension and being overweight are associated with poor health [27]. Additionally, women who completed secondary school may have envisioned opportunities for themselves beyond the gender-normative roles of production and reproduction assigned to them, and this could be a source of unhappiness and poor emotional health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

"It is Like Medicine": Using Sports to Promote Adult Women's Health in Rural Kenya

Barchi

AbiNader

Winter

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite the well-documented health benefits of recreational sports, few opportunities exist in lower- and middle-income countries for adult women to participate in recreational physical activities. An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was used to explore associations between an innovative soccer program for adult women and self-reported health status. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2018-2019 from 702 women in the Nikumbuke Project, a health and literacy program in southeastern rural Kenya, followed by focus group discussions with 225 women who also participated in the Project's soccer program. Quantitative findings suggest that women who participated in soccer had 67% greater odds of reporting good or excellent health than their non-soccer playing peers. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicated that women credited soccer with less pain, fatigue, and stress, as well as weight loss and reduced dependence on medicine for hypertension, pain, and sleep problems. Women equated health benefits with greater ease and efficiency in completing chores, reduced worries, youthful energy, male-like strength, and pleased husbands. Soccer programs for adult women may be particularly effective interventions in settings where access to health care is limited and where lack of opportunity to engage in physical aerobic activity increases women's risks for poor health outcomes. .

show abstract

Health literacy in rural and urban populations: A systematic review

Cited by 180 publications

References 45 publications

Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population

Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population

Research on Influencing Factors and Dimensions of Health Literacy in Different Age Groups: Before and After the COVID-19 Era in Chongqing, China

"It is Like Medicine": Using Sports to Promote Adult Women's Health in Rural Kenya

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About