The effect of health literacy on cardiovascular disease risk factors, level of awareness and diabetes risk in women

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the effect of health literacy on cardiovascular disease risk factors knowledge and diabetes risk in women. It was carried out with 300 women over the age of 18 who did not have a chronic disease who came to Gaziantep Binevler Family Health Center, Halide Alevli Family Health Center and Mehmet Ali Özkara Family Health Center. "Personal Information Form", "Turkey Health Literacy Scale - 32 (TSOY-32)" "Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors Knowledge Level (KARRIF-BD) Scale" and "Finland Diabetes Risk Questionnaire (FINDRISC)" were used in the study. IBM SPSS 22 program frequency, percentage, mean, Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U and correlation analyses. Total scale scores of the participants were determined as TSOY-32 28.48±11.02, CARRIF-BD 16.77±4.46 and FINDRISC 13.93±3.63. A correlation was found between the scale and its sub-dimensions and the FINDRISC total score (p<0.05). Women in the study generally had low education level, were older, had poor general health status, and those who used green cards had insufficient health literacy and had lower TSOY-32 scale averages. It is evident that those who are illiterate and have low economic status have lower scores on the CARRIF-BD scale. rated. It was observed that the FINDRISC score decreased statistically as the number of single people increased, the education level increased, the number of people with heart disease in their first degree relatives decreased, the number of people who always received help in their reading and writing activities decreased, and the general health status improved. It is important to provide women with the necessary training on health literacy. Keywords: Health literacy, diabetes risk, cardiovascular diseases risk factor, nursing.