The relationship between health literacy and socio-demographic characteristics among syrians under temporary protection in a region of Izmir

Aim: To investigate health literacy level and associated factors among Syrians living under temporary protection in Gaziemir, Izmir. Methodology: Cross-sectional study conducted between March and May 2018 targeting the population of Syrians under temporary protection aged 18 years and older, residing in Gaziemir's localities of Sarnic and Aktepe where approximately 1000 Syrians resided. Using Snowball method, 280 Syrian were reached and face to face interviews were conducted in the respondents' houses. Health literacy (HL) was evaluated using the Turkish Health Literacy scale (TSOY-32) after translation to Arabic. Logistic Regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with having adequate HL level. Results: 28.2% of the 280 Syrians participants were males and 71.8% were females with mean age of 35.9 ± 14.1. While 21.4% of the participants did not attend school, 27.2% of them graduated from high school or higher degree. Participants' average duration of stay in Turkey was 47.88 ± 15.6 months. General HL index's mean was 20.28 ± 8.83. 70.8% of the participants had inadequate (<25 points), 22.7% had problematic (25-33 points), 5.8% had adequate (33-42 points) and 0.7% had excellent (> 42-50 points) level of HL. As education level and the perceived income status increases, HL mean score increases (p<0.01). While, as the participants' age increases the mean score decreases (p<0.01). Having adequate level of HL was significantly higher among participants who speak Turkish (p<0.01), who don't have chronic disease (p<0.01) and those who lived longer in Turkey (p=0.045). In multivariate analyzes, having higher level of education was 9 times(OR =9.1, 95% CI= 4.4-8.9); and being able to speak Turkish was 7 times(OR =7.2, 95% CI =3.0-17.1) more likely to have adequate level of HL. Conclusion: 93.5% of the participating Syrians had inadequate or problematic levels of HL. Increasing the level of education and teaching Turkish language to Syrians living in Turkey, will contribute to the increase of their HL therefore, their health status.