Association between Sociodemographic Variables and Health Literacy Levels among İndividuals with Mental Disorders in Brazil

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Regional University of the Northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUÍ). Brazil. Postgraduate Program in Comprehensive Health Care (PPGAIS).

2 Regional University of the Northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUÍ). Medicine course.

3 Regional University of Alto do Uruguai and Missões. Brazil. Postgraduate Program in Comprehensive Health Care (PPGAIS).

4 CIEC - Research Centre on Child Studies (supported by FCT under the projects UIDB/00317/2020 e UIDP/00317/2020), University of Minho, Portugal

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Health literacy refers to individuals' abilities to find, understand, and use information to make informed decisions, crucial for the general population and particularly for those with mental disorders. To analyze the influence of sociodemographic characteristics of individuals living with mental disorders on their ability to find good health information and understand health information well enough to know what to do. 

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at a Psychosocial Care Center in southern Brazil between April and October 2023, involving individuals with severe, chronic, and persistent mental disorders. The Sociodemographic and Health Conditions Questionnaire and questions from the Brazilian version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), specifically scales 8 and 9, were administered. The HLQ, tested for reliability in this population, showed satisfactory internal consistency using Omega and Cronbach's Alpha. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. 

Results: The evaluated scales showed strengths for the investigated group. Scale 8 – Ability to find good health information – obtained a mean score of 3.51 (±0.82), and Scale 9 – Understanding health information well and knowing what to do – obtained a mean score of 3.57 (±0.75). Scale 8 showed statistical differences in age group (p<0.001), race/ethnicity (p=0.013), user's education level (p<0.001), mother's education level (p=0.003), father's education level (p<0.001), and duration of service follow-up (p=0.012). Scale 9 showed statistical differences in age group (p=0.008), race/ethnicity (p=0.048), user's education level (p<0.001), mother's education level (p=0.001), father's education level (p<0.001), and duration of service follow-up (p<0.001). 

Conclusion: The evidence suggests that the evaluated scales were considered strengths, influenced by age, race/ethnicity, user's education level, mother's and father's education levels, and duration of service follow-up, contributing to the advancement of knowledge on the topic.

Keywords

Acknowledgments: To the students of nursing and medicine courses at the Regional University of the Northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUÍ), for their assistance in data collection and the municipal health department for authorizing the study.


Availability of data and materials: Upon request to the corresponding author.


Conflict of interest: We do not have.


Consent for publication: Not applicable.


Ethical approval and consent to participate: Research Ethics Committee under Opinion number 5,966,864/2022. Participant's consent by signing two copies of the free and informed consent form and adhered to the specified guidelines in the Declaration of Helsinki.


Funding: Productivity Grant process 306866/2021-6 National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ).


Author contributions: Gheno EER, Rodrigues F de O, Kunkel GK, Kolankiewicz ACB. Responsible for study design, data collection, analysis, discussion and final review of the manuscript. Nogaro A, Anastácio ZFC Responsible for discussion and final review of the manuscript.

 

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Journal of Health Literacy
Volume 9, Issue 3 - Serial Number 35
September 2024
Pages 31-44

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