Study on health literacy and its influencing factors among Wuhan residents in 2011

Objective To investigate status of health literacy among Wuhan residents,and provide scientific basis for developing intervention strategy.Methods Multi-stage stratified sampling method was carried out to select sample population.3000 residents aged 15 to 69 years old participated in questionnaire survey.Health literacy synthetic index(SI) was used to evaluate health literacy status and analyze its influencing factors.Results The health literacy SI among Wuhan residents was(0.72±0.15).The 3 partial indexes including knowledge,behaviors,skills were(0.73±0.18),(0.60 ±0.19),and(0.68±0.23),respectively.SI among urban residents(0.76±0.13) were higher than that of rural residents(0.72±0.14).SI among residents with good self sensation(0.73±0.14) on health status was higher than that of poor residents(0.66±0.17).SI among different education levels and age groups had statistical difference(P0.01).Gender(OR=1.28),age groups of 31-40,41-50 and 61-69(OR were 1.74,1.71 and 1.61,respectively),education degrees of primary school,junior middle school and senior middle school/vocational high school/polytechnic school and college or bachelor degree(OR were 0.04,0.10,0.20 and 0.39,respectively),engaged in medical work(OR=0.09) and income groups of 2000-4999 RMB,5000-9999 RMB and 10 000 RMB above(OR were 1.97,1.92 and 2.04,respectively) were found as main influencing factors associated with health literacy by logistic regression analysis.Conclusion The level of health literacy among Wuhan residents was at middle level,health behavior guidance and intervention should be one of the important contents of health education to improve residents health behavior.