Regional heterogeneities of health literacy in China: a population-based study

Abstract

Background: Few studies described the geographic variations of health literacy in China. This study aimed to investigate the regional heterogeneities of health literacy level in Chinese population, in order to formulate targeted health literacy promotion strategies in different economic and cultural contexts.Methods: Multi-stage stratification, clustering, and random sampling methods were used to select 70 study sites from 25 provinces or municipalities in China. Health literacy was measured using the National Resident Health Literacy Monitoring Questionnaire. MapInfo software was used to map the geographic distribution. Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust for the factors associated with the health literacy level in the total and regional samples.Results: A total of 3,482 participants were included in the study, including 1,792 (51.5%) males and 1,690 (48.5%) females. A notable geographic variation was observed in the health literacy level. The proportion of respondents with adequate health literacy was 22.3%, including 33.0% in the eastern region, 23.1% in the central region, and 17.6% in the western region. The proportion of adequate health literacy in different provinces or municipalities ranged from 10.5%(Xinjiang) to 47.0%(Beijing).Being female (odds ratio [OR]=1.360, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.153-1.605), having a higher education level (OR=1.860, 95% CI: 1.671-2.070), having better economic status (OR=1.353, 95% CI:1.220-1.502), having better self-rated health status (OR=1.263, 95% CI: 1.081-1.476), and having more community health education (OR=1.192, 95% CI: 1.034-1.374) were independently associated with adequate health literacy. Conclusions: The health literacy level of Chinese people is still low, with heterogeneities among different regions, between urban and rural areas, and among different social groups. With respect to health literacy promotion efforts, more attention should be given to behavioural changes and the continuous exploration of methods of developing healthy behaviours and lifestyles. Ways of improving the health literacy levels of people in different regions should be adapted to local conditions. Health education should be strengthened for low-income people in the central and eastern regions. Special emphasis should be placed on the intensity of health knowledge publicity and the accessibility of 3 health knowledge and skills in the central and western regions.

Spatiotemporal Pattern Evolution in Global Green Trade Networks: Implications for Health Economics

“…e secondary industry covers health food processing and manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, health equipment manufacturing, and other industries. e tertiary industry covers medical and health services, wholesale and retail of health products, public facilities management, health management, health financial services, and other industries, as well as public welfare undertakings that provide a good ecological environment, healthcare combined with healthcare services, and ecological leisure tourism [5,6]. From this point of view, the health industry has the dual attributes of people's livelihood and science and technology.…”

Health literacy and fatigue, anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma from West China: A cross‐sectional study

“…The mean score (34.19, SD = 6.18) of health literacy represented a limited health literacy of the sample (Chinese Ministry of Health 2009), which supported a previous finding that the basic health literacy among Chinese residents was limited from low to moderate. 22,34,35 Previous research revealed that older patients were associated with lower health literacy, 36 and age was identified as a factor that need to be considered when reading comprehension was required for certain health or medical tasks. However, this trend was not observed in our study.…”

The correlation between health literacy and mental health literacy in Turkish Society

“…A study conducted in Turkey reported that 30.9% of the participants had inadequate HL levels and 38.0% had problematic/limited HL levels (Özkan et al, 2018). That study's results showed that age, education, income, employment, and health knowledge had some impact on HL levels (Li et al, 2021; Okan et al, 2019; Özkan et al, 2018; Rajah et al, 2019). Low HL among older adults is associated with increased reports of poor physical functioning, pain, limitations in daily activities, and poor mental health status (Wolf et al, 2005, 2010).…”

“…This concept is seen as an integral part of individual HL and its results include the ability to understand the community's public health messages as well as participate in and evaluate the civil movement on health care issues (Ad Hoc Committee on Health Literacy for the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, 1999). Low HL is still a public health problem in Turkey as it is in other nations (Li et al, 2021; Okan et al, 2019; Rajah et al, 2019). A study conducted in Turkey reported that 30.9% of the participants had inadequate HL levels and 38.0% had problematic/limited HL levels (Özkan et al, 2018).…”