Journal of Health Literacy
Volume:8 Issue: 2, Summer 2023

Health literacy is a dynamic concept that is defined by the capacity of people to acquire, interpret and understand health information and services that are necessary for making appropriate decisions and has different dimensions. One of its dimensions is sexual health literacy. Obtaining information on sex has various challenges for people in the society. Web-based social media is one of the most effective and powerful tools through which various types of information can be obtained. This technology allows people to easily interact and communicate with each other through the Internet and learn. Considering the various capabilities of web-based social media, it can be used as one of the options for teaching sexual health literacy of young people. Therefore, blogs, microblogs, wikis, and social networking sites create opportunities for health professionals to create ways to educate, listen, and interact with youth about health-related issues. Of course, the use of Internet-based social networks has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered.

Recently, the larger number of people use internet to seek out information and assess medical consultant online. The wide availability of internet has facilitated to approach information instead of through healthcare professionals as before. Therefore, the importance of digital health literacy has remarkably developed. The study examined digital health literacy of healthcare students and identified the influencing factors.  The cross-sectional study conducted on 1547 healthcare students of Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Vietnam, through online with convenient sampling. The first part of instrument was general characteristics. Web-based information seeking behaviors questionnaire was modified to be suitable to Vietnamese context. Digital Health Literacy Instrument was used to explore digital health literacy level of healthcare students. Data were analyzed using frequency, description calculations, and multiple linear regression test.  The mean of digital health literacy of healthcare students was 57.38 (SD=9.15). The skills of operation, using computer and web browsers were highest score, while web navigation and orientation skills got the lowest scores. Gender, educational program, English level, hours of using internet per day, reasons for using internet, means to log in internet, and web-based information seeking behaviors influenced digital health literacy (p<.05).  The level of digital health literacy of students was medium. Improving digital health literacy for university students would enrich the ability of online information evaluation. Health information should be developed on mobile applications in order to enhance the digital health literacy among students.

Many studies have explored associated and determining factors regarding contraceptive prevalence and use as well as the disparities in contraceptive use based on different regions in Nigeria but none has made effort to establish the influence of health literacy on contraceptive knowledge, attitude and use. This study, therefore, attempted to examine the impact of health literacy on Nigerian adults’ contraceptive knowledge, attitude and use.  The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and the population of the study consisted of Nigerians who are 18 years and above and reside in any part of the country.  A non-probability sampling technique was adopted and a questionnaire was the main instrument of data collection for this study. A total of 426 participants participated in the study. Frequency count, simple percentages, mean, standard deviation, T-test, one-way ANOVA, regression and correlational analysis were used to analyse the data generated from the study. The study indicated that 90.6% of the Nigerian adult population has adequate health literacy, and 53.8% of them have poor contraceptive knowledge. Similarly, 65.7% of the participants have positive attitudes towards contraception while 58.2% of the participants’ contraceptive use is high. Further, health literacy was shown to have a significant but weak positive impact on contraceptive knowledge (r = 0.345, p<0.001), attitudes toward contraception (r = 0.362, p<0.001), and contraceptive use (r = 0.218, p<0.001). The study’s results imply that many other factors aside from health literacy affect people’s contraceptive knowledge, attitude and use. Hence, addressing the health literacy of adult Nigerians is only one aspect of improving contraceptive knowledge, attitude and use.

The selecting and misusing medications and health products may affect the health of the patients.  The aim of this study is to determine the level of literacy and factors affecting health literacy in medication and health products usage in the older adults who attended the senior schools in Northeastern of Thailand. A cross-sectional study with face-to-face interviews and self-report questionnaire study were conducted in March - July 2021. The 1,599 older adults were selected by the stratified random sampling method from the 13 older adult schools. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to test the association between variables. The analysis showed that most participants have a low level of health literacy in medication and health products usage. The mean score for all six components of the V-shape model by the Department of Health of Thailand was 145.20 ± 37.13 out of 300 points which was less than 50% of total points. The lowest was average of 22.31± 7.03 out of 50 points. The three levels of health literacy were at the low (≤50 points). Factors affecting to low health literacy in medications and health products usage, were single status (OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.40), lack of family support (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.91), and having a smartphone (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.06) with the ability to browse the internet (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.28, 2.31). Public and community stakeholders need to encouraging the older adults to have a better level of health literacy in medications and health products usage are required. Activities should be followed and focus on health literacy. Then, it results in good health for the older adults and improves their ability to be self-care as well.

The need to measure oral health literacy has led to the development of measurement instruments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between parental oral health literacy and children’s oral health status in Chengalpattu district and assess the degree to which parental factors explain this association. This cross-sectional epidemiological study took place among 350 children aged from 3 to 9 years and their parents to estimate the children’s dental health status by DMFT index, at the child’s home. Examiners interviewing the parents administered the Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (HeLD) - a Pre- validated questionnaire to determine their Oral health literacy and questioned them further about their social characteristics and their children’s dental health behaviour. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson’s Correlation coefficient and Linear regression analysis. The age of the parents and children were 29.25 ± 4.63 and 7.23 ± 2.83 respectively. Results from Pearson’s correlation coefficient shows that the factors that are significantly correlated with oral health status of the children were parent’s working status, number of children, type of family and oral health literacy of the parents. Forward Linear regression analysis also demonstrates the same factors that were associated. The Oral health literacy level of parents was significantly associated with their children’s oral health status. Improving parent’s Oral health literacy might help strengthen their capacities to promote oral health, thus helping to improve their children’s dental health

Early diagnosis is important for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. Pap smear test, which is used for early diagnosis, does not reach about half of women. This low level of use of preventive health services is associated with low health literacy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of women's knowledge and health literacy status on their attitudes and behaviors towards the Pap smear test.  This descriptive, cross-sectional study was completed with 260 women. The convenience sampling method was used, and the study data were collected with a personal information form and the Health Literacy Scale at Yozgat Bozok University Research and Application Hospital between June and September 2022.  The average age of the women included in the study was 33.5±10.6 years and the total health literacy score was mean 54.52±13.40. The health literacy levels of women aged ≥41 years, who were married, with a primary school level of education, and not working in an income-generating job were lower than those of the others (p<0.05). It was determined that only 28.1% of the women had previously had a Pap smear test and were considering having it done again. The health literacy level of the women who did not know the test, had not had one previously, and did not plan to have it, was lower than that of the others (p<0.05).  The study results demonstrated that health literacy affects women's attitudes and behaviors towards the Pap smear test. The attitudes and behaviors of women with a high health literacy level towards the Pap smear test were seen to be positive.

Diet adjustment is an important factor in the management of all types of diabetes. One of the factors that influences diet adherence is food literacy. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationships among food literacy, following a healthy diet, and consumption of a variety of food groups in people with type 2 diabetes. The present research was a descriptive-analytical study that was conducted on 288 people with type 2 diabetes referred to comprehensive health service centers in Khorramabad from May 2021 to April 2022. The simple random sampling method was used to select the participants. The data collection instruments included the food literacy questionnaire, diet adherence behavior survey, and a three-day food record. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test, the Pearson correlation coefficient, one-way anova, and univariate and multivariate linear regression models. The mean healthy diet and food literacy scores were 28.55 ± 6.03 and 16.21 ± 5.73, respectively. The mean consumption of food groups during the three recorded days was less than the recommended levels in the food pyramid. Education (β:0.30) and food literacy (β:0.23) had the highest predictive power for adherence to a healthy diet. The relationships among food literacy, with the consumption of the meat group (r=0.346, p<0.001), fruits (r = 0.178, p = 0.002), vegetables (r = 0.225, p < 0.001), and fats and oils (r = -0.157, p = 0.008) were significant. The mean healthy diet adherence and food literacy scores were low in the participants. Significant relationships among food literacy, the consumption of a variety of food groups, and following a healthy diet demonstrate the key role of promoting food literacy in the adherence to a healthy diet. Therefore, it is crucial to implement educational interventions to improve food literacy in diabetic patients.

Children and adolescents are at risk of experiencing sexual behaviors, which can harm their physical and mental health. Parents must understand gender issues and distinguish between normal and abnormal sexual behaviors to prevent maladaptive behaviors. This study aimed to examine the sexual health literacy of parents and adolescents and their correlation. The research conducted was correlational and focused on employees of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. The sample size consisted of 87 parents and 33 children, selected through available sampling between 2020 and 2021. The researcher created questionnaires to measure the sexual health literacy of both parents and children. Data analysis was done using SPSS 23 software and the U-Man-Whitney test at a significance level of 0.5. The Results show that the total score of parents' sexual health literacy is equal to 117.05 and the standard deviation is 17.50. The highest average is related to an understanding with an average of 59.43 and the lowest is related to evaluation with an average of 16.89. It is 108.52 with a standard deviation of 25.56. The highest average is related to an understanding with an average of 54.97 and the lowest is related to evaluation with an average of 15.76. Also, the findings do not show a significant relationship between the level of sexual health literacy of parents and children. The study found no notable correlation between parents' and children's sexual health. However, parents displayed a higher level of health literacy compared to their children. This could positively impact the education of adolescents, given the importance of family-oriented education. Therefore, it is crucial to empower parents to educate their teenagers.