Evaluation of health literacy, health status and health services utilization in women in Baluchistan region of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Health promotion Research center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

2 PhD student of Health Education & promotion, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 PhD student of Health Education & promotion, School of health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

Abstract

Background and objective: Health literacy is an important factor in the ability of a woman to engage in the activities of health promotion and prevention for herself and her Family. So, the aim of this study was to determine health literacy level and the relationship between health literacy and public health status, as well as health care utilization and health preventive behaviors, in urban women of Baluchistan region.
Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study which was conducted on 247 women aged 18-65 years old. Samples were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Information was collected  using a questionnaire consisted of two part including Health Literacy for Iranian Adults and GHQ28 standard questionnaire for assessing  general health status, health care utilization and health preventive behaviors which was completed using home interviewing. Collected data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS 18 and statistical tests: Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square and Mann whitney.
Results: 32.4 % of women had adequate health literacy level, 34.4% had border level and 33.2% had inadequate level. Inadequate health literacy was more frequent among younger household women with less educated and lower income (P<0.001). Also, women with higher health literacy level assessed their public health at the better status and attempt to do screening more than others.
Conclusion: This study showed that the health literacy level was inadequate in the women of Baluchistan region. Therefore, Codification comprehensive program , create a simple, understandable and accessible media and training materials, as well as theory-based educational interventions for people with inadequate health literacy can be an effective way to develop  health literacy skills and health promotion in society
Paper Type: Research Article.

Keywords

References

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