Health literacy, health perception and related factors among different ethnic groups: a cross-sectional study in southeastern Turkey

Gülhan Yiğitalp,Sema Çifçi,Vasfiye Bayram Değer

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11119-7

Gülhan Yiğitalp, Sema Çifçi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11119-7

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Abstract

BackgroundLow levels of health literacy are associated with increased hospitalization rates, problems regarding the proper intake of medications, poor general health and increased mortality rates. It is a well-known fact that health literacy differs among ethnic groups and ethnic minorities, in particular, are known to have a low level of health literacy. The present study aimed to reveal the levels of health literacy among different ethnic groups and the affecting factors as well as the relationship between health literacy and health perceptions.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out with different ethnic groups (Kurdish, Arab, Turkish and Assyrian origin), between 18 and 65 years old in the province of Mardin in Turkey. The study was conducted with a total of 600 people. The European Health Literacy Scale-Turkish Adaptation (EHLS-TR) and Health Perception Scale (HPS) were used for measurement. Descriptive analysis, Mann Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis Test and Spearman correlation were used in the data analysis.ResultsIt was found that 80.7% of the participants had relatively low levels of health literacy. The lowest levels of health literacy were among those of Kurdish origin. There were correlations between sufficient levels of health literacy and several factors including being of Assyrian origin, being 50–65 years old, living in a nuclear family, being a secondary school graduate, having a high financial status, being retired, evaluating one’s own health status as good, obtaining health information from healthcare professionals, preferring to visit a state hospital to seek medical assistance first, smoking and drinking alcohol. A positive correlation was also identified between the levels of health literacy and health perception.ConclusionsIt is essential to develop programs to increase health literacy for the public and, in particular, for the ethnic groups that are disadvantaged in many aspects in the context of health literacy.

Highlights

Low levels of health literacy are associated with increased hospitalization rates, problems regarding the proper intake of medications, poor general health and increased mortality rates
In a study conducted in eight European countries, it was stated that 47.6% of the participants had inadequate and problematic levels of health literacy (HL)
The present study aimed to reveal the relationship between HL and Health perception (HP) as well as evaluate the HL levels and the factors affecting HL in different ethnic groups

Summary

Introduction

Low levels of health literacy are associated with increased hospitalization rates, problems regarding the proper intake of medications, poor general health and increased mortality rates It is a well-known fact that health literacy differs among ethnic groups and ethnic minorities, in particular, are known to have a low level of health literacy. Inadequate and problematic HL levels in adults vary between 11.4 and 85.4% in different countries [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. In a national study carried out among adults in Turkey, it was revealed that 64.6% of the participants had inadequate and problematic levels of HL [10]. Different ethnic groups, consisting mostly of Kurdish, Arab, Turkish and Assyrian people, live together peacefully in Mardin, where the official language is Turkish. The ethnic groups of Kurdish, Arab and Turkish origin are Muslims, while the ethnic group of Assyrian origin is Christians [29]

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