RESUMEN
Objectives: To assess the functional health literacy among adolescents of Model schools of Islamabad. To determine association between health literacy and health seeking behaviour of adolescents. Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study
Material and Methods: Multi stage systematic sampling was done and a sample size of 350 using WHO sample size calculator. After taking informed consent from the students data were collected using the newest vital sign [NVS] for assessment of functional health literacy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in Model schools of Islamabad, from Jan to Dec 2016
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 15 [SD +/- 0.6] years. There were 181 [52%] females and 169 [48%] males in the study. Out of 350 respondents 73 [20.9%] had very limited health literacy, while 187 [53.4%] had limited while 90 [25.7%] had adequate health literacy. In health seeking 30 students [8.6%] scored 1-2 on the health seeking behaviour score of 1-6 and therefore were categorized as having poor health seeking behaviour. While 164 students [46.9%] scored 3-4 and were categorized as having satisfactory health seeking. One hundred and fifty six students [44.6%] scored 4-5 and had good health seeking behavior
Conclusion: The health literacy among the adolescents was limited and had no association with health seeking behaviour