Showing 8 results for Health Literacy
Ali Safari Morad Abadi, Teymour Agha Molaei, Ali Ramezankhani, Sakineh Dadipoor,
Volume 15, Issue 2 (9-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health literacy implies the achievement, processing and perception of fundamental information and services required for making appropriate health-related decisions. Due to the high significance of health literacy during pregnancy and its direct effect on fetus, the present research was conducted to investigate the health literacy of pregnant women visiting medical centers in Bandar Abbas, Iran in 2015.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study conducted on 250 pregnant women visiting the healthcare centers in Bandar Abbas, Iran selected by mixed sampling (both clustering and simple random). The data were collected using an adult health literacy questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16, the statistical tests being independent-sample t-test, ANOVA, Tukey test and linear regression.
Results: The average age of the pregnant women was 31.61±7.45 years. The proportions of the women with an adequate, borderline and inadequate level of literacy were 52%, 20.8% and 27.2%, respectively. A statistically significant association was found between health literacy and education (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.001) and the quality of healthcare provision during pregnancy (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results reveal that the mothers’ health literacy is inadequate or at borderline. Based on these results the following are recommended in an attempt to promote health literacy of pregnant women: 1. revising/simplifying teaching materials, including both oral and pictorial, in addition to written materials in the form of posters, pamphlets and brochures; 2. promoting communication skills of health workers/mothers.
Neda Karimi, Shahrzad Saadat Gharin, Azar Tol, Roya Sadeghi, Mehdi Yaseri, Bahram Mohebbi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Since many of the healthy behaviors are adopted and develop during adolescence, proper choice of such behaviors is very important in this period of life. In addition, paying attention to the health of girls is crucial because they will transfer such behaviors to the next generation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the role of health literacy and demographic variables in determining health-promoting behaviors among second-grade high school girl students in the City of Tehran, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 female students using cluster sampling method in 2018. Data were collected using demographic, Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII) questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS25.
Results: The results of multivariate regression analysis revealed that there were statistically significant direct associations between health-promoting behaviors and the following variables: one’s health literacy (β= 0.39, p<0.001), interest in health topics (β= 1.35, p<0.001), reading of journals and newspapers (β=0.76, p= 0.007), father's education (p= 0.002), body mass index (p= 0.022), field of study (p<0.001), the first source of health information (p<0.001) and place of residence (p = 0.023). Further analysis of the data showed an indirect association between health-promoting behaviors and age (β= -1.69, p<0.001) and health assessment (β=-1.67, p<0.01).
Conclusion: Based on the findings it is concluded that the subjects’ health literacy and health-promoting behavior scores were “not sufficient” and “intermediate”, respectively. It is recommended to design and implement appropriate training/intervention programs aiming at increasing the heath literacy and promoting health behaviors of female students.
Leila Dehghankar, Marzieh Hajikarimbaba, Rahman Panahi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the central role of low health literacy (HL) in causing health inequalities and the fast growth of university student populations, this study aimed to determine the HL and its related factors among university students.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study including 375 female students of Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin, Iran in 2019 selected using the stratified random sampling method. The data-collecting tools included a demographic and background questionnaire and an Iranian adult HL assessment questionnaire. The SPSS 23 software was used for data analysis, the statistical tests being descriptive and logistic regression tests.
Results: Data analysis showed that 17 (4.5%) of the students had inadequate, 112 (29.9%) insufficient, 188 (50.1%) adequate, and 58 (15.5%) excellent HL, the mean HL percentage (± SD) being 70.80 (± 12.49). Based on logistic regression analysis, there was a statistically significant association between HL and physical activity (p =0.039), such that the chance of having good HL among the students with physical activity on most days was 2.097 times that of those with regular daily physical activity. A significant relationship was also found between HL and employment (p =0.042), such that the chance of having good HL among the employed students was 0.534 times that of unemployed students.
Conclusion: Considering the low health literacy rate among the students with low physical activity and those who are unemployed, it is recommended to pay more attention to these students when designing educational programs to increase their health literacy.
Rahman Panahi, Leila Dehghankar, Mahya Shafaei, Ali Razaghpoor,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (3-2020)
Abstract
Background and aim: Health literacy can be one of the most important effective factors in the adoption of preventive behaviors of osteoporosis by raising awareness and understanding the benefits of diagnostic and preventive behaviors. The objective of this study was to determine the health literacy skills effective in predicting adoption of osteoporosis preventive behaviors in high school female students.
Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study including 375 high school girls in Qazvin, Iran, selected by multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using the standard Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) and the Preventive Behavior of Osteoporosis Measurement questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS-23, the tests being descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis.
Results: Two of the eight components of health literacy, namely, understanding and communication, and two, namely usage of health information and calculation, were found to receive the highest and the lowest mean scores, respectively. The total scores of health literacy and the adoption of preventive behaviors of osteoporosis were 70.84±12.58 (out 100) and 22.43±5.60 (out of 36), respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that the components of health literacy could predict 38.4% of the changes in the adoption of preventive behaviors of osteoporosis (R2 = 0.384). The only other predictor of adoption of behavior was the usage of health information (P=0.001، β=0.044).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended to pay special attention, when developing educational programs for the prevention of osteoporosis in adolescents, to health literacy as a whole, especially the usage of health information component.
Somayeh Mokhtari Molaei, Roya Sadeghi, Azar Tol, Maryam Sabouri, Shahrzad Saadat Gharin, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Food preferences and health literacy ─ key determinants of food choices in childhood and adolescence ─ are determinants of chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to determine associations between food preferences, health literacy and body mass index (BMI) among elementary school students in Malekan city, east Azarbayejan Province, Iran in 2021-2022.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study included 582 male and female primary-schoolers in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades in both the public and private schools in Malekan County (Malekan, Lilan, and Mubarakshahr) selected by the two-stage randomized cluster method. A questionnaire including background questions and questions about health literacy and a researcher-made checklist of food preferences was used to collect data online using the Pros-Online Platform. The content validity ratio and index were used to determine validity and Cronbach's alpha index to check for the reliability of the questionnaire (CVI=0.98, CVR=0.91, Cronbach's alpha > 0.7). Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS 26.
Results: The average health literacy score of all the students was rather low (52.9±00.33), that of the female students (55.7±36.49) being slightly higher than that of the boys (49. 9±29.79). Further analysis of the data showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between the students' food preferences and health literacy variables (p<0.001). Furthermore, statistically significant relationships were observed between the students' BMI and their food preferences (p˂0.001) and health literacy (p˂0.001).
Conclusion: Considering the low level of health literacy of the adolescents and a positive relationship between health literacy, food preferences and BMI in adolescents, it can be concluded that increasing their health literacy will improve their healthy food choices. Therefore, it seems that interventions based on a theoretical framework aiming at increasing the students’ health literacy and improving their food preferences can be beneficial to them as a potential strategy for improving their healthy eating patterns resulting in preventing overweight and obesity.
Hosein Izadi Rad, Fereshteh Narouei, Parisa Mohammadi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Women referring to health centers are one of the most important groups at risk of disease. Thus, in order to enjoy a high level of health, it is necessary for them to have health literacy. The purpose of this research was to find the demographic predictors of health literacy in women referring to comprehensive health service centers in Zahedan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study including 400 women selected by random cluster sampling from health centers under coverage of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2022. The short form of the HELIA standard questionnaire was used to measure health literacy of the women. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software, the statistical tests being ANOVA, Kendall's correlation, and multiple regression.
Results: The subjects were between 18 and 60 years old. They were found to have obtained most of the information related to health and disease by asking doctors and healthcare workers (about 52.25%). The scores of the components of the subjects’ health literacy were as follows: average health literacy 69.91±23.34, reading 72.17±29.80, access 34.73±27.91, understanding 71.41±29.43, assessment 62.10±25.51, and the scope of decision-making and behavior 71.49±20.27. The strongest predictor of health literacy was found to be education, such that with an increase in the level of education, the health literacy of a woman would increase by 0.53 units. In addition, education variables, income level, age and ethnicity would predict 55% of the health literacy of the women.
Conclusion: This study shows that the health literacy score is related to age, education level, marital status, occupation, economic status and ethnicity, the strongest predictor of health literacy being the a high level of education. Therefore, considering the available evidence on the importance of health literacy and factors related to it and the low level of health literacy of women in this study, it is clear that women need to acquire, process and understand the basic information on health and therapeutic services in order to be able to make appropriate decisions. Briefly, women need to receive simple and understandable information and have more time to communicate with the health service personnel to understand health information.
Javad Siahmoshtei, Mahmoud Zivari Rahman, Niloofar Mikaeili,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Cancer patients face numerous psychological and physical challenges in which various psychological, social, economic and medical variables are involved. This study aimed to model the structural equations of coping strategies in cancer patients based on early maladaptive schemas with the mediating role of health literacy.
Materials and Methods: This was a correlation analysis study based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of cancer patients aged 20 to 60 years visiting private medical centers in Tehran between April 20th and September 21st, 2024, from among whom 665 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire (1998), the Adult Health Literacy Questionnaire (2023), and the Coping with Stressful Situations Inventory Questionnaire (1990) and analyzed using the structural equation modeling methods using SPSS 25 and Amos 24 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Data analysis showed that the early maladaptive schemas had a statistically negative relationship with health literacy (β = ─ 0.84, p < 0.001) and a positive relationship with coping strategies (β = 0.25, p < 0.001). In addition, health literacy had a negative association with coping strategies (β = 0.83, p < 0.001). In addition, health literacy had a negative association with coping strategies (β=─0.83, p<0.001).and an intermediary role in the association between primary maladaptive schemas and coping strategies (β=0.25, p<0.001). Goodness-of-fit indices indicated an adequate fit of the model (GFI = 0/916, IFI = 0/910, CFI = 0/909, and RMSEA = 0.078).
Conclusion: The findings show that early maladaptive schemas are associated with low
health literacy and coping behaviors in cancer patients. Improving health literacy can, as a mediating variable, moderate these negative effects, and can also contribute to better constructive coping behaviors. Educational interventions to increase health literacy can be useful in mental therapy and rehabilitation.
Sahar Hojjati Far, Majid Movahed Majd, Serajaldin Mahmoudiani,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health literacy plays an important role in the health of a society and population during times of illness. During the coronavirus outbreak human resilience and health of the population were at risk. Health literacy and its various dimensions are known as an important factor in strengthening human health. Therefore, research on the relationship between the coronavirus pandemic and health literacy can help formulate policies to promote people's health.
Materials and Methods: This study was a survey in which data were collected using a questionnaire. The statistical population was all citizens of Shiraz city, Iran from whom a sample of 400 people was selected by random sampling. SPSS and LISREL were used to analyze the data.
Results: Analysis of the data collected revealed statistically significant positive correlations between reading, decision-making, health behavior literacy and gender with COVID-19 self-care (p < 0.05). The structural equation model showed that decision-making and behavior had the highest predictive power for COVID-19 self-care, with an impact factor of 3.36. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that reading, decision-making, behavior and gender are important factors influencing COVID-19 self-care, while assessment and access have the least impact. These findings can guide healthcare professionals to develop strategies aiming to enhance self-care practices in future pandemics.
