Health literacy and health behaviors of Guinean university students residing in Brazil

Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2023 Oct 27:44:e20220295. doi: 10.1590/1983-1447.2023.20220295.en. eCollection 2023.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the health literacy and health behaviors of Guinean university students residing in Brazil.

Method: A cross-sectional, analytical study conducted with 51 Guinean university students residing in Brazil. A health behavior questionnaire and the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults - Short version were applied. Spearman correlation coefficient, U of Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis were calculated.

Results: Health literacy was adequate (median=79; IQR=24). Reading comprehension (median=70; IQR=16) of health information was better than numerical comprehension (median=14; IQR=14). Better health literacy performance was found in those with daily screen time of 3 to 5 hours (p=0.004) and who consumed fatty meat (p=0.002).

Conclusion: Adequate health literacy of Guinean university students was associated with mostly healthy behaviors, except for screen time and consumption of fatty meat.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brazil
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Literacy*
  • Humans
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Students
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities