In search of ‘low health literacy’: Threshold vs. gradient effect of literacy on health status and mortality

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 1335-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Wolf ◽  
Joseph Feinglass ◽  
Jason Thompson ◽  
David W. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Gradient Effect ◽  
Low Health Literacy

scholarly journals Self Rated Health among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Norway – a cross sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Haj-Younes ◽  
E M Strømme ◽  
W Hasha ◽  
E Abildsnes ◽  
L T Fadnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Long Time ◽  
In Transit

Abstract Background Refugees are often exposed to various stressors before, during and after migration that can cause adverse health effects. Prior research indicates that the health status of refugees is a significant factor in determining their success in resettlement. This study aims to assess self-rated health (SRH) and factors associated with SRH among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Norway. Methods The study uses a cross-sectional design with data from a self-administered survey among 827 adult Syrian asylum seekers of whom 506 were recruited in Lebanon, and 321 in Norway. Inclusion criteria were subjects who self-identified as Syrian nationals above the age of 16. The survey was conducted in 2017 and 2018 in collaboration with International Organization of Migration in Lebanon and through mandatory educational activities in Norway. Data analysis was performed for the main outcome self-rated health (SRH), a validated health status indicator, which was dichotomized into “good” and “poor” SRH. Odds Ratios for poor SRH were estimated adjusting for age, gender and country of residence. Results A total of 827 of 972 (85%) who were invited answered the questionnaire. The mean age was 33 years and 74% were men. Factors associated with good SRH were being Kurdish (AOR: 0.48 (0.23 to 0.97)) compared to Arabic ethnicity, being married (AOR 0.54 (0.29 to 0.99)) compared to being single, migrating alone (AOR 0.59 (0.37 to 0.96)) compared to co-migration and having low health literacy level (AOR: 0.64 (0.42 to 0.93)). In contrast, poor SRH was significantly increased with long time in transit country/ies (AOR 1.49 (1.07 to 2.06)) and with older age (age 30-34 AOR 3.2, age 35-39 AOR 2.2, age 40 + AOR 2.6) compared to age group 16-24. Conclusions Older refugees and those who stay long time in transit are at great risk of reporting poor SRH. Some of the factors associated with better health, like Kurdish ethnicity, low health literacy or migrating alone, deserve further research. Key messages Age and long stay in transit is associated with poor SRH among Syrian refugees. Demographic background and migrant related factors should be taken into account when planning refugee resettlement and healthcare provision.

Identifying Health Literacy in Kansas Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy K. Chesser ◽  
Jared Reyes ◽  
Nikki Keene Woods
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Behavioral Risk Factor ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
Risk Factor Surveillance ◽  
High Health Literacy

Health literacy continues to be an important research topic as part of population-based assessments for overall health issues. The objective of this continuation study was to examine the health literacy rates and health outcomes as measured by the Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. A cross-sectional research design was used. Health literacy data were extracted from the state-specific module of the BRFSS telephone survey. Demographic and health status variables were extracted from the core BRFSS dataset. The association between demographic and health status characteristics with health literacy was obtained using weighted samples in multivariable logistic regression models. As in the previous study, most respondents had moderate health literacy (61.1%), followed by high health literacy (31.4%) and low health literacy (7.5%). The demographic variables of interest included race, marital status, home ownership, insurance status, metropolitan status code, survey language, veteran status, education, employment, income, sex, and age. The health status variables included general health rating, presence of chronic conditions, and length of time since last check-up. Findings include individuals with low levels of health literacy were nearly 7 times as likely to be unsure of at least one health condition than those with high health literacy and demonstrate a broad gap in people’s ability to communicate accurate information to health-care providers. Results can inform future efforts to build programs that address health disparities issues including low health literacy to provide equitable health-care services. There is a continued need for support for the creation of health literate programs.

Low Health Literacy and Poor Health Status in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Hawai'i

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (sup3) ◽  
pp. 279-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetine Sentell ◽  
Kay Kromer Baker ◽  
Alvin Onaka ◽  
Kathryn Braun
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Pacific Islanders ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Poor Health Status ◽  
Low Health Literacy

scholarly journals Health literacy, culture and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, New Zealand: A review

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Losi Sa'u Lilo ◽  
El-Shadan Tautolo ◽  
Melody Smith
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Normal Blood ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Cultural Determinants

The social and cultural determinants of health among Pacific people must be addressed to understand the underlying factors related to poor health outcomes. Such factors may include (but are not be limited to) culture, religion, education, socioeconomic status and health literacy. One study, using the lens of Pacific culture, found that almost 90% of Pacific males and females aged 15 years and over have low health literacy. Individuals with low health literacy are less likely to manage ill health, seek professional medical assistance or interpret nutrition related information.  It is possible that the high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a significant issue in the Pacific population, including amongst Pacific mothers, are in some part associated with low levels of health literacy, which in turn link to cultural determinants of health. Findings from this review show that inadequate health literacy was consistent among adult females, particularly older adults of low socioeconomic status, lower level of education, non-English speakers and adults with compromised health status. Further, culture may play a role in attainment of adequate health literacy. These individuals were more likely to report worse chronic physical conditions, such as diabetes, including lack of knowledge of their condition such as the inability to identify normal blood sugar levels, the range of a normal blood pressure or how to self-manage hypoglycaemia. Public health practitioners should apply effective communication using a culturally and ethnically tailored approach to support Pacific peoples to understand health messages, improve health behaviours and health status. The author reviewed 33 papers on the issue of health literacy definitions, measurement and determinants; Pacific peoples and NCDs; and discussed it in the light of a cultural determinants’ approach.

scholarly journals E-health and health literacy of young adult Ukrainian female immigrants and Polish counterparts

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Krasko ◽  
J Marianowska ◽  
M Duplaga
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
University Education ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Ehealth Literacy

Abstract Background According to recent projections, even 10% of Polish gross domestic product is contributed by Ukrainian immigrants. There is also a considerable number of Ukrainians continuing university education in Poland. The level of health literacy in Ukrainian society has not been studied so far. The aim of the study was the comparison of health literacy (HL) and e-health literacy (eHL) of young adult Ukrainian (UA) women with their Polish (PL) counterparts Methods A snowball technique was used to recruit a sample of UA women working or studying in Poland to the Internet-based survey. The questionnaire used in the study consisted of the 16-item European HL Survey questionnaire (HLS-EU-16), eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), the set of the questions asking about health behaviours (HB), self-assessment of health status (HS) and items exploring sociodemographic variables. For comparison, the data of an age-matched sample of 100 respondents was extracted from the online survey performed in a representative sample of PL women. Results The mean age (standard deviation, SD) of 57 UA respondents was 20.23 (1.78) years and in Polish sample 20.25 (1.79). HL did not differ between both groups (11.06 (4.22) vs 11.44 (4.34), respectively, p = 0.53), but eHL was significantly lower in UA group (25.91 (5.36) vs 28.17 (5.37), U Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.01). Only 58.5% of UA respondents vs 80.5% of PL ones assessed their HS as at least good (Fisher exact test, p < 0.001). The rates of active smoking (34.6% vs. 35.0%, p = 0.55), using e-cigarettes (35.3% vs 34.0%, p = 0.99), frequent alcohol consumption (26.9% vs. 20%, p = 0.41), and intensive physical activity (49.0% vs. 38.0%, p = 0.22) did not differ between study groups. Conclusions Young UA women show lower eHL than PL counterparts. Although HL and HB in both groups did not differ significantly, UA respondents have assessed their HS much lower than PL participants. Key messages E-health literacy and self-assessed health status were significantly lower among young Ukrainian than among Polish women. Both groups did not differ for health literacy and health behaviours.

scholarly journals Mental health, compliance with measures and health prospects during the COVID-19 epidemic: the role of health literacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize Hermans ◽  
Stephan Van den Broucke ◽  
Lydia Gisle ◽  
Stefaan Demarest ◽  
Rana Charafeddine
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Normal Life ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Abstract Background The importance of health literacy in dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic has been emphasized but scarcely addressed empirically. In this study, the association of health literacy with mental health, compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures and health prospects was assessed in a Belgian context. Methods Data were extracted from the third of a series of cross-sectional online COVID-related surveys (n = 32,794). Data collection took place for 1 week starting the 28th of May 2020. People residing in Belgium and aged 18 years or older could participate. Data were collected on sociodemographic background, health literacy, multimorbidity, mental health (depression, anxiety, sleeping disorder, vitality), knowledge about COVID-19, compliance with COVID-19 measures (hygiene, physical distance, covering mouth and nose on public transport and in places where physical distance cannot be respected), and health prospects (risk for health when returning to normal life and possibility of infection). Prevalence Ratio (PR) of poor mental health, non-compliance with the measures and health prospects in relation to health literacy were calculated using Poisson regressions. Results People showing sufficient health literacy were less likely to suffer from anxiety disorders (PR = 0.47, 95% CI = [0.42–0.53]), depression (PR = 0.46, 95% CI = [0.40–0.52]) and sleeping disorders (PR = 0.85, 95% CI = [0.82–0.87]), and more likely to have optimal vitality (PR = 2.41, 95% CI = [2.05–2.84]) than people with low health literacy. They were less at risk of not complying with the COVID-19 measures (PR between 0.60 and 0.83) except one (covering mouth and nose in places where physical distance cannot be respected). Finally, they were less likely to perceive returning to normal life as threatening (PR = 0.70, 95% CI = [0.65–0.77]) and to consider themselves at risk of an infection with COVID-19 (PR = 0.75, 95% CI = [0.67–0.84]). The associations remained significant after controlling for COVID-19 knowledge and multimorbidity. Conclusions These results suggest that health literacy is a crucial factor in managing the COVID-19 epidemic and offer a perspective for future studies that target health literacy in the context of virus outbreaks.

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