A systematic review of the prevalence of limited health literacy in Southeast Asian countries.

OBJECTIVES: Health literacy is increasingly recognized as a public health concern. Most of the literature on health literacy concentrate in the Western countries. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and examine the available studies on health literacy in Southeast Asian countries and estimate its prevalence in this region. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: A search for relevant articles was carried out using Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar with multiple search terms. Inclusion criteria comprised articles published in English language and assessing general health literacy. Risk of bias reduced with the involvement of two independent reviewers in the screening of the literature and the quality assessment process. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included, which only consist of studies from five countries out of 11 making up the Southeast Asian region. The overall prevalence of limited health literacy varied considerably, 1.6%-99.5% with a mean of 55.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1%-75.6%). A much higher prevalence was noted in studies conducted in healthcare settings, 67.5% (95% CI: 48.6%-86.3%). The most common factors associated with limited health literacy were education attainment, age, income and socio-economic background. Other factors identified were gender and health behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, despite the little evidence available and existences of high heterogeneity among studies, limited health literacy is still prevalent in Southeast Asian countries. Urgent strategies to improve and promote health literacy in the region are highly warranted. Besides, more studies on health literacy with better quality on the methodology aspect are needed.

Knowledge and perceptions of prescribers regarding adherence to standard treatment guidelines for malaria: a comparative cross-sectional study from Pakistan.

Despite the availability of standard treatment guidelines for malaria in Pakistan adherence to protocols by prescribers is poor. This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to explore the perceptions and knowledge of prescribers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities towards adherence to standard treatment guidelines for malaria. A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 360 prescribers; 64.7% were satisfied with the available antimalarial drugs and 41.3% agreed that antimalarial drugs should only be prescribed after diagnostic testing. Only half the prescribers had the guidelines available in their health facility. Almost all the prescribers (97.7%) agreed that there was a need for more educational programmes about the guidelines. Most prescribers were unaware of the correct standard treatment regimen for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria. There were no differences in knowledge between males and females, but prescribers having more experience, practising as general practitioners and working in private health-care facilities possessed significantly better knowledge than their counterparts.

Knowledge and perceptions of prescribers regarding adherence to standard treatment guidelines for malaria: a comparative cross-sectional study from Pakistan

Despite the availability of standard treatment guidelines for malaria in Pakistan adherence to protocols by prescribers is poor.This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to explore the perceptions and knowledge of prescribers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities towards adherence to standard treatment guidelines for malaria.A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 360 prescribers; 64.7% were satisfied with the available antimalarial drugs and 41.3% agreed that antimalarial drugs should only be prescribed after diagnostic testing.Only half the prescribers had the guidelines available in their health facility.Almost all the prescribers [97.7%]agreed that there was a need for more educational programmes about the guidelines.Most prescribers were unaware of the correct standard treatment regimen for Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax malaria.There were no differences in knowledge between males and females, but prescribers having more experience, practising as general practitioners and working in private health-care facilities possessed significantly better knowledge than their counterparts

على الرغم من توافر الدلائل الإرشادية العلاجية المعيارية للملاريا في باكستان فإن التزام محرري الوصفات بها سيء. وتستهدف هذه الدراسة الوصفية المستعرضة استقصاء مدركات ومعارف محرري الوصفات الطبية في مدينتي إسلام آباد وراولبندي حول الالتزام بالدلائل العلاجية المعيارية للملاريا. وقد وزع الباحثون استبيانا على عينة عشوائية تضم 360 من محرري الوصفات الطبية، واتضح أن 64.7 % منهم كانوا راضين بالأدوية المتوافرة المضادة للملاريا، وأن 41.3 % موافقون على أن الأدوية المضادة للملاريا ينبغي أن لا توصف إلا بعد إجراء اختبار تشخيصي. ولم تكن الدلائل الإرشادية متوافرة إلا عند نصف المرافق الصحية التي يعمل بها محررو الوصفات الطبية. وكان جميع محرري الوصفات الطبية تقريبا [97.7 %]موافقين على الحاجة لمزيد من البرامج التعليمية حول الدلائل الإرشادية، وكان معظم محرري الوصفات الطبية غير مطلعين على النظام العلاجي المعياري الصحيح للمتصورة المنجلية والمتصورة النشيطة. ولم يكن هناك اختلاف في المعارف بين الذكور والإناث، إلا أن محرري الوصفات ذوي الخبرة الأكثر، والذين يمارسون باعتبارهم أطباء عامين ويعملون في مرافق الرعاية الصحية الخاصة يمتلكون معارف أفضل من غيرهم من الزملاء

Malgré la disponibilité de guides thérapeutiques normalisés pour le paludisme au Pakistan, le respect des protocoles de soins par les prescripteurs est médiocre.La présente étude descriptive et transversale visait à explorer les connaissances des prescripteurs dans les villes d'Islamabad et de Rawalpindi concernant les guides thérapeutiques normalisés pour le paludisme et leurs perceptions du respect de ces guides.Un questionnaire a été distribué à un échantillon aléatoire de 360 prescripteurs; 64, 7 % étaient satisfaits des médicaments antipaludiques disponibles et 41, 3 % convenaient que les antipaludéens devaient être prescrits uniquement après un test diagnostique.Seule la moitié des prescripteurs possédaient les guides thérapeutiques sur leur lieu de travail.Presque tous les prescripteurs [97, 7 %]convenaient que davantage de programmes d'éducation sur ces guides étaient nécessaires.La plupart des prescripteurs ignoraient les bons schémas thérapeutiques types pour le paludisme à Plasmodium falciparum et P.vivax.Aucune différence n'a été observée entre les connaissances des hommes et des femmes.Toutefois, les prescripteurs chevronnés, ceux exerçant comme médecins généralistes et travaillant dans des établissements de soins de santé privés avaient de bien meilleures connaissances que leurs confrères