Health literacy and e-health literacy of primary school senior students in rural areas

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the health literacy levels, e-health literacy levels and the factors affecting health literacy levels of primary school senior students living in rural areas. Materials and Methods: This search is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample consists of 322 8th grade students studying in the village schools of Saruhanli district of Manisa province. As data collection tool; Socio-demographic form, e-health literacy scale in adolescents and Health Literacy Scale for School Age Children were administered to the students. Findings: The median score of health literacy scale for school-age children of primary school senior students was found to be 32.00. The Health Literacy Scale of the students (26-35 points) corresponds to moderate health literacy. The median score of the e-health literacy scale was determined to be 29.00 medium in adolescents. In this study; gender, family economic status, mother-father education status, internet access at home, health problems and family health problems were not a determinant factor in e-health literacy. The health literacy level of students decisions about health was found to be higher for those who found the internet useful and those who thought it was important to access health resources on the internet. In addition, time of daily internet usage and health information seeking behaviors were found to affect health literacy. Results: The findings obtained in this study show that the levels of health literacy and e-health literacy of primary school senior students living in rural areas are not in sufficient and how they can be improved should be investigated. Keywords: Child, Health, Health Literacy, Measurement of Health Literacy