Determining The Health Literacy Level in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)

Abstract

Health literacy is one of the areas most affected by advances in information technologies. The desperation of states around the world in the COVID-19 epidemic that emerged in early 2020 has increased the importance of the issue further. The problems faced by states in preventing the spread of the epidemic and directing their citizens make it necessary for people to increase their awareness of health issues. In this research, it is aimed to determine the health literacy levels of individuals living in the TRNC. In this context, 32-item health literacy scale (Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32) developed by Okyay, Abacıgil and Hagan (2013) was used. Data from 203 subjects in the study were collected and subjected to analysis. As a result of the analysis of the data, it was determined that the overall score increase for health literacy was 3.71 out of 5 (74 out of 100), the participants were in the "adequate" class in the assessment of health-related information and in the "excellent" class in other dimensions. While the level of health literacy did not differ depending on gender, marital status and the mode of action exhibited in the state of being ill, it was concluded that there was a statistically significant difference depending on the importance given to healthy nutrition and sports/exercise and satisfaction with health services.