Kontakt 2018, 20(4):e375-e380 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2018.08.007

Measuring the factors affecting health literacy in East Hungary - Health literacy in the adult population of Nyíregyháza citySociální vědy ve zdraví - původní práce

Renáta J. Erdei^*, Anita Barth, Anita R. Fedor, Péter Takács

University of Debrecen, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Nyíregyháza, Hungary

As a critical determinant of health at a population level, knowing health literacy is essential for effective health promotion and for the positive influence on health status. However, very little research hasfocused on this topic in Hungary. We aimed to measure health literacy and find the factors affecting it among the adult population in Nyíregyháza city. The results contribute to improving health literacy, thus improving health behaviour, which is needed to develop individual and community strategies.
Our study was carried out in the framework of the "Quality of life of Nyiregyháza - Household Panel" research, by using two health literacy measurement tools, the Newest Vital Sign and the perception-based Chew screening questions. The selected respondents were required to be over 18 years of age and had to be permanent residents of the city. Interviewers questioned the selected 541 households in the months of April-May 2018.
Out of the 541 households, 391 households answered the questionnaires, which represents a 72.3% response rate. The average rate of health literacy level among the adult population in Nyíregyháza is in line with other Hungarian studies that previously measured the average rate of health literacy at population level.
The results show that the health literacy of the population of the city is most affected by their educational level. Our research reveals that the health literacy of the population is not significantly affected by their economic activity and income at local level. The need for the development of interventions within the framework of interprofessional cooperation that improve the level of health literacy, and focus on the low-educated population groups is urgent.

Klíčová slova: Health literacy; Population health survey; Education

Vloženo: 2. srpen 2018; Přijato: 28. srpen 2018; Zveřejněno: 30. listopad 2018  Zobrazit citaci