Which women patients have better health literacy in Serbia?

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate health literacy among female primary care patients and the possible factors which contribute to better health literacy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 824 female primary health care patients. Functional health literacy was measured by the Serbian version of the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA). Chi-square testing and logistic regression analyses were applied.

Results: We found that inadequate or marginal health literacy was present in 363 participants (44.1%) and adequate health literacy was present in 461 participants (55.9%). Functional health literacy was significantly different by age, marital status, employment, education, material status, self-perception of health, and health status. Based on multivariate analysis, health literacy was significantly associated with participant age, employment status, level of education, and perception of health.

Conclusion: Better health literacy existed among younger, employed participants with a higher education and better self-perception of health.

Practice implications: Strengthening the knowledge and evidence base for measuring and assessing health literacy are action points for health strategies to decrease the ill effects of low health literacy.