Original Article
Effectiveness of medical intervention on health literacy of urban vs. rural residents living in Wenzhou City of Zhejiang Province
Xiaohong Zhang, Lei Chen, Guili Yang, Lin Hu, Zhongjian Li, Qiong Lin
Published 2014-10-20
Cite as Chin J Health Manage, 2014, 08(5): 326-332. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-0815.2014.05.011
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate health literacy before and after the medical intervention and its influencing factors so as to provide evidence for public health promotion.
MethodsStratified multi-stage random sampling method was applied for residents aged 15-69 years from 8 urban or rural communities of Taishun County of Lucheng District. The comprehensive health literacy promotion and intervention was carried out, and a unified citizen health literacy questionnaire was designed. Residents' health literacy, the three aspects of health literature and five categories of health literacy issues levels were compared before and after the intervention, and Chi-square test was used for data analysis.
ResultsThe overall rate of having health literacy was 11.8% and 16.3% in 2012 and 2013, respectively (χ2=7.20, P<0.01). The rate of basic health concept and knowledge, health lifestyles and behaviors, and medical skills were significantly raised from 18.5%, 9.4% and 23.5% to 28.0%, 14.6% and 33.5%, respectively (χ2 values were 21.60, 11.07 and 20.85, respectively; all P<0.01). As to the five issues of health literacy, the level of the scientific healthy literacy, the chronic disease literacy, the literacy of infectious disease, the safety and first aid literacy and the basic health literacy were significantly inclined (52.4% vs. 40.4%, 39.3% vs. 31.8%, 27.8% vs. 22.4%, 74.0% vs. 58.2% and 41.9% vs. 33.8%, respectively; χ2 values were 27.79, 34.95, 8.10, 43.07 and 13.61, respectively; all P<0.01).
ConclusionHealth education was helpful in the promotion of healthy literacy. Healthy lifestyles and behavior literacy and chronic disease prevention literacy should be important for the rural, elderly, low-education level and low-income populations.
Key words:
Health literacy; Intervention studies; Evaluation studies
Contributor Information
Xiaohong Zhang
Health Education Institution of Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325027, China
Lei Chen
Guili Yang
Lin Hu
Zhongjian Li
Qiong Lin