Assessment of health literacy level in Akçadağ, Malatya

Health literacy is the knowledge, motivation and abilities of individuals to reach information about health, to understand, interpret and apply this information. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the health literacy level and the health literacy level of 18 and above age group citizens. Fieldwork was conducted between March and July 2016 in district center and villages of Akçadağ, Malatya. Among of the 16.325 men and women aged 18 years and over who were registered to 7 family medicine units, the expected frequency of inadequate health literacy and problematical health literacy was selected by %50, 95% confidence interval and error margin of 5% and the sample size was found 375. Face to face interviews were conducted and datawere collected by questionnaire. The sociodemographic questionnaire, the Turkish versions of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire and the Newest Vital Sign scale were used in this study. 50,7% of the participants were males, 78,4% were married and 10,9% were 65 years old and over. It was determined that 7,2% of the group were not literate, 45,1% were composed of housewives and unemployed. The HLS-EU-Q general health literacy index score average was determined as 27.5±7.41. 77,6% of the study group was found to be in the category of inadequate or problematic health literacy.The average score of the NVS scale for the group was 2.60±1.74. Health literacy indices correlated with each other and the NVS scale. In health literacy indices and the NVS scale, the average score of males was higher than the average of females. As the level of education increased, the average scores of the NVS scale and general health literacy index increased. As the total amount of money entering the house increased, adequate or excellent health literacy was increased according to the general health literacy index and adequate health literacy increased according to the NVS scale. There was a negative correlation between the body mass index values of the study group and the NVS scale and general health literacy index scores. The inclusion of clear information on health in areas frequently used by the community, and the availability of health professionals' effective communication techniques during their training will be effective in raising the level of health literacy. Key words: Literacy, health, health literacy