Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Health Literacy: A Community-Based Study in Shanghai, China

Ying Wu, Lu Wang, Zhongyuan Cai, Luqi Bao, Pu Ai and Zisheng Ai
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Ying Wu: Postdoctoral Research Station of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Lu Wang: Baoshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Shanghai, Baoshan 201900, China
Zhongyuan Cai: Baoshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Shanghai, Baoshan 201900, China
Luqi Bao: Baoshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Shanghai, Baoshan 201900, China
Pu Ai: Department of Clinic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
Zisheng Ai: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Health literacy is an increasingly important public health concern. However, little is known about the health literacy of general public in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of low health literacy and demographic associations in Shanghai, China. Methods: This study was a community-based cross-sectional health survey utilizing a multi-stage random sampling design. The sample consisted of 1360 individuals aged 15–69 years with the total community-dwelling Chinese as the sample frame. Health literacy was measured by a questionnaire developed on the basis of a national health literacy manual released by the Chinese Ministry of Health. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify whether common socio-demographic features were associated with health literacy level. Results: The prevalence of low health literacy was 84.49% (95% CI, 82.56% to 86.41%). The prevalence of low health literacy was negatively associated with the level of education, occupation, and annual household income, but was not associated with gender, age, or the presence of non-communicable chronic disease. Conclusions: Simplifying health services, enhancing health education, and promoting interventions to improve health literacy in high-risk populations should be considered as part of the strategies in the making of health policy in China.

Keywords: health literacy; prevalence; health education; knowledge; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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