Current Status of Health Literacy and Its Influencing Factors Among 5,999 Residents in Some Areas of Hunan

Objective To investigate the current situation of health literacy and its influencing factors among the residents of some areas of Hunan. Methods A face to face interview was conducted among 5,999 residents who were randomly selected in some areas of Hunan.Non-conditional Logistic regression models were used to assess the possible influencing factors of health literacy of the residents. Results The awareness rate of health knowledge,the grasping rate of health skills and the formation rate of optimal behaviors in the residents of surveyed areas were 57.7%,55.4% and 52.3%,respectively.The rates of urban residents were significantly higher than those of rural residents(63.8% vs 51.6%,62.1% vs 48.8%,57.6% vs 47.0%),and the difference was statistically significant.Non-conditional Logistic regression analysis results showed that minority nationality residents(OR=1.906),rural area residents(OR=1.835),the workers with heavy workload(OR=1.550) and the residents with more permanent family-members(OR=1.061) had relatively low health literacy,while female residents(OR=0.868),residents with junior college degree or bachelor degree or above(OR=0.089),and residents with higher income per family member(5,000～9,999/month,OR=0.282) had relatively high health literacy. Conclusions Health literacy level of the residents in surveyed areas is relatively lower.We should pay attention to the influencing factors and conduct necessary health education intervention so as to improve residents' health literacy.