ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the health literacy level and influencing factors of Uyghur residents in Moyu County, Xinjiang between 2018 and 2020.Methods:A total of 5 211 and 5 207 Uyghur residents in Moyu County, Xinjiang were sampled using the multi-stage cluster method in 2018 and 2020, respectively. The health culture questionnaire for ethnic minority in Xinjiang was used. The survey included general demographic characteristics, overall health literacy levels, and the three aspects of health literacy levels (health knowledge and concepts, healthy lifestyles and behaviors, and health skills) and six dimensions (scientific health concept, health information literacy, infectious disease prevention and control literacy, chronic disease prevention literacy, safety and first aid literacy, and basic medical literacy). The influencing factors of residents′ health literacy in 2020 were analyzed using χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression. Results:In 2020, overall health literacy and its three aspects among Uyghur residents in Moyu County, Xinjiang were higher than in 2018 (overall 8.10% vs 5.07%, health knowledge and concepts 9.99% vs 7.60%, healthy lifestyle and behavior 6.88% vs 5.33%, health skills 40.12% vs 30.22%) (all P<0.05). In 2018, results for the six dimensions of health literacy were, from high to low, as follows: safety and first aid literacy (26.42%), basic medical literacy (14.14%), health information literacy (13.38%), scientific health concept (10.17%), infectious disease prevention and control literacy (8.96%), chronic disease prevention and treatment literacy (5.57%); In 2020, the results, from high to low, were: safety and first aid literacy (36.09%), basic medical literacy (24.08%), health information literacy (20.47%), infectious disease prevention and treatment literacy(15.19%), scientific health concept (13.85%), and chronic disease prevention and treatment literacy (10.10%). All values were higher than in 2018 (all P<0.05). Gender, age, education level, marital status, occupation, per capita monthly household income level, and area of residence influenced health literacy levels of local residents. Conclusions:The health literacy of Uyghur residents in Moyu County, Xinjiang improved from 2018 to 2020; however, the overall level remains low. Elderly people, people with low education levels, people with low incomes, business people & staff are the key groups requiring health education. Healthy lifestyle and behavior, chronic disease prevention and treatment literacy, scientific health concept, infectious disease prevention and control literacy are identified as areas necessitating health education and health promotion intervention.