Health literacy and self-care in reproductive age: The role of reading and numeracy skills

Women in the reproductive age are the first target group in the public health promotion plans, with regards to the importance of health literacy in this matter the present study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy in women of reproductive age and its relationship with self-care.
In this descriptive-analytical study, 330 women who visited health centers in Lenjan (Isfahan) were examined. Data collection tools included a self care questionnaire and the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). The reliability and validity of both tools have been examined and confirmed in previous studies. ANOVA and multivariate regression were used for data analysis. The significance level of all tests was 0.05.
The mean scores of health literacy and self-care were 41.05±9.23 and 67.91±23.55, respectively. In total, 28, 23 and 49% of the subjects had inadequate, borderline, and adequate literacy levels, respectively. ANOVA results showed that the scores of self-care, body care, vaccinations, and stress management are significantly different at different levels of health literacy. Regression model showed that linear combination of independent variables explains 13% of variance in self-care. ANOVA results also showed that the regression model is significant (P Findings showed that women with inadequate health literacy have lower mean self-care, body care, and stress management scores, as compared to those with adequate health literacy. It seems that more attention to improving the level of health literacy, especially reading literacy, is necessary as factors affecting self-care in reproductive age.