HEALTH LITERACY LEVEL OF A PROVINCE AND FACTORS AFFECTING IT

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the level of health literacy and related factors in Bursa. Methods: It was determined by the simple random random sampling method from the population of the Family Physicians in Bursa and the 17 districts of Bursa were weighted according to their populations, and the districts where less than 50 questionnaires would be applied were excluded from the scope of the study. In June-July 2018, 2200 people were surveyed, 188 surveys were excluded from the research due to inadequacies in the data and a total of 2012 surveys were evaluated. Results: As a result of the logistic regression analysis of the factors age, education, health status, income level and reading habits were found to be associated with having sufficient health literacy level. Accordingly, adequate level of health literacy; in individuals aged 15- 44, 1.25 times compared to individuals aged 45 and over, 1.36 times more than those with a high school or higher education, secondary school and below, 1.81 times more than those with good health and poor health, it was observed that it was 1.32 times higher in those with a good income level than those with a low income level and 1.45 times more in those with a habit of reading books than in those without a habit of reading. Conclusion: In our health literacy study conducted in Bursa province, we showed the relationship between age, education status, income level, education level, reading habits and health literacy. Health literacy; a concept that has been put forward for the last twenty years for health service delivery, is known to be effective in a wide process ranging from cost-effective patient-physician satisfaction, where it can change the results of health service expectations. In order to protect the society without the need for rehabilitation without getting sick for a total welfare, screening and education activities should increasingly continue