Health literacy among residents in Karamay City / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the level of health literacy among residents in Karamay City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, so as to provide insights into formulating health promotion strategies.@*Methods@#Based on the Health Literacy Surveillance Program in Karamay City, demographic information and health literacy data were collected from residents aged 15 to 69 years in Karamay City in 2022, and levels of health literacy was analyzed. Factors affecting health literacy were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model.@*Results@#A total of 1 473 respondents were included, with a mean age of (39.62±15.09) years. There were 751 men (50.98%) and 722 women (49.02%). The level of health literacy was 28.31%, and the prevalence rates of basic healthy knowledge and attitudes, healthy lifestyles and behaviors and basic health-related skills were 39.31%, 27.36% and 30.75%, respectively. The prevalence rates of safety and first aid, scientific health outlook, health information, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease prevention and basic medical care were 58.93%, 49.29%, 48.88%, 33.67%, 29.74% and 27.77%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age (45 to 54 years OR=2.329, 95%CI: 1.005-5.398), ethnicity (ethnic minority, OR=0.459, 95%CI: 0.341-0.617), educational level (primary school and below, OR=0.213, 95%CI: 0.102-0.444; junior high school, OR=0.302, 95%CI: 0.193-0.471; high school, OR=0.579, 95%CI: 0.428-0.784), and annual household income (less than 10 000 Yuan, OR=0.352, 95%CI: 0.199-0.624; 10 000 to 30 000 Yuan, OR=0.447, 95%CI: 0.279-0.717; 30 000 to 50 000 Yuan, OR=0.598, 95%CI: 0.407-0.880) as factors affecting health literacy among residents in Karamay City.@*Conclusion@#The level of health literacy was 28.31% among residents in Karamay City in 2022. Health education and promotion should be carried out targeting residents of different ages, ethnicities, educational levels and annual household income, in order to further enhance the level of health literacy among residents in Karamay City.