ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the health literacy about infectious diseases in urban and rural residents in Huai'an city and to provide suggestions for the intervention of health literacy in the residents.Methods Using multi -stage stratified cluster random sampling method,4000 residents aged 15 -69 years old from 8 counties were selected and investigations were carried out by Chinese Residents Health Literacy Questionnaire (2012).Results The awareness rate of health literacy about infectious diseases was 20.62%,which was slightly higher than the national level.The awareness rate of urban residents was higher than that of rural residents (63.38% vs.67.12% respectively),male residents higher than female residents (68.78% vs.62.75% respectively)and people over15 and less 30 years old higher than other age groups.There were significant differences of awareness rate among different education levels and different occupations (P<0.05 ).The awareness rates of"tuberculosis infection","the correct treatment of cough and sneeze"were relatively low. Conclusion Effective measures should focus on different groups of people,especially for the elderly,women and people with low level of education.