Health Literacy Level: Akyazı Example

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 28 - 44, 27.03.2024

Hüseyin Aslan , Buse Mete

Abstract

Aim: Within the scope of this research, it was aimed to determine the health literacy levels of
individuals residing in Sakarya/Akyazı and in terms of which socio-demographic characteristics
of individuals differ.
Methods: 428 participants were reached using the convenience sampling method. However, due
to missing data, data from 400 participants were included in the analyses. The Turkey Health
Literacy Scale (T-SOY) developed by Okyay et al., (2016) was used to determine the health
literacy level of the individuals. The questionnaire prepared by Teleş (2018) was used to determine
the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients.
Results: 60% of the participants are male, 70% are married, 35.8% are 30 years old and under,
48.5% are associate degree graduates, and 68% are full-time employees. Health literacy levels are
higher in women, individuals without chronic diseases, non-smokers, individuals aged 30 and
under, individuals with postgraduate education, individuals with an income of 10501 TL or more,
and individuals with public insurance, compared to the opposite groups
Conclusion: Cultural change over time can be tracked through health literacy assessments.
Particularly stakeholders in the health-education-politics-media quadrant can accelerate efforts to
increase the level of health literacy by assuming more active roles.

Keywords

health, health literacy, socio-demographic chareacteristics

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