Abstract
This cross sectional study was carried out among 313 higher secondary college students to assess the knowledge on health literacy and behaviors related to non communicable diseases (Diabetes and Cancer). The study period was from January to December 2013. Majorities (63%) of the respondents were male and rests of them (37.0%) were female. Maximum of the (45.1%) respondent’s father was higher educated (masters) and more than one-third (34.9%) mothers were graduate. A vast majority (98.1%) of the respondents indicated smoking as the main risk factor for Cancer in which most (89.8%) of the respondents mentioned excess body weight as the most important risk factor for Diabetes. A vast majority (93.9%) of the respondents gave emphasis about cessation of tobacco for the prevention of cancer whereas majority (79.9%) of the respondents gave emphasis about physical exercise and labor for the prevention of Diabetes. Knowledge about health literacy is statistically significant (p=0.021) with gender of the students. Father and mother educational status were not significantly associated (p>0.05) with health literacy. Need based, specific, time relevant and school based programs and community based awareness program need to be designed for further improvement of health literacy among college students.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. September 2017, 3(3): 341-346
Highlights
In Bangladesh health education is widely used term in preventive medicine directed to promote healthy lifestyle
A vast majority (98.1%) of the respondents indicated smoking as the main risk factor for Cancer
About two-third (66.5%) of the respondents assumed alcohol consumption was another causative factor for Cancer
Summary
In Bangladesh health education is widely used term in preventive medicine directed to promote healthy lifestyle. Health professionals typically define health education as a one way approach to information dissemination. They do not take into consideration the actual use of information to improve health by the individual receiving the information. Over the last few years health professionals in Bangladesh have begun to analyze the relationship between health, knowledge and environmental support to achieve a more sophisticated understanding of how to change lifestyles These levels distinguish between compliance with expert prescribed behavior (functional health literacy), self-management of problems in partnership with health professionals (interactive health literacy), and empowerment (critical health literacy) (Jahan, 2006). Health Literacy has been defined as the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health
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