Selected aspects of health literacy in clients endangered by poverty

Abstract

The aim of this research study was to map the factors influencing health literacy in people who are in an unfavourable social situation and who have a right to social benefits, i.e. benefits for persons in material poverty. Health literacy characterizes the attitude to health in each democratic society and is subject to some socioeconomic and demographic variables–age, education, and social status. Health and quality health care are important life aims and rights of citizens. Qualitative research, the question method and the semi-structured interview method were used to gain the research data. The questions were asked with respect to the following key research areas: availability of information on health, health situation and health system; motivation and activities to search for information on health; orientation in the Czech health service system; cognitive and affective abilities to find and understand information on health condition. The research sample consisted of inhabitants of the South Bohemian region who, because of their unfavourable social situation had a right to the social benefit for persons in material poverty. The authors have identified the basic factors that influence health literacy of the research study sample. Health literacy in clients who are endangered by poverty is a current topic in health and social problems according to the acquired data within the qualitative research study. The identified factors closely relate to the social situation of the respondents of the research sample. There is a space for the intervention of social workers, and social workers can systematically cooperate within the concept of higher health literacy of individuals and families.