Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Better health literacy has been found to be associated with better health outcomes across varied populations. This study aimed to (1) examine the health literacy levels of individuals with respect to the extent to which they acquire, understand, appraise, and apply health informa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Discover Social Science and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-024-00136-7 |
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| author | Raymond A. Tutu Edmund Essah Ameyaw John Kwagyan Doris Ottie-Boakye |
| author_facet | Raymond A. Tutu Edmund Essah Ameyaw John Kwagyan Doris Ottie-Boakye |
| author_sort | Raymond A. Tutu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Better health literacy has been found to be associated with better health outcomes across varied populations. This study aimed to (1) examine the health literacy levels of individuals with respect to the extent to which they acquire, understand, appraise, and apply health information, and (2) to assess the relationship between health literacy and self-reported health in the state of Delaware. Methods The sampling frame consisted of 60 purposively selected faith-based organizations across the state of Delaware who predominantly serve minorities. Accounting for clustering design, a sample size was determined based on a Mixed Methods test. In total, 1095 participants responded to a survey questionnaire which included a validated short version of the European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability techniques, chi-square test of independence, and ordinal logistic regression. Results The study found that about a quarter of the participants had inadequate level of health literacy and about another quarter had problematic level of health literacy. These results are reflected across the health domains—health care, disease prevention, and health promotion. Health literacy was predictor of self-rated health. The odds of better self-rated health are 0.360 times lower for people with inadequate health literacy levels compared to those with sufficient health literacy. Conclusion Health literacy profoundly shapes health outcomes. The high proportion of people expressing difficulty concerning accessing, comprehending, appraising, and using health information in the health care, disease prevention, and health promotion domains in state of Delaware would require a concerted effort. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5b3bee9484984570b2593790b9d60285 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-0469 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Social Science and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-5b3bee9484984570b2593790b9d602852025-01-19T12:39:25ZengSpringerDiscover Social Science and Health2731-04692025-01-015111210.1007/s44155-024-00136-7Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional studyRaymond A. Tutu0Edmund Essah Ameyaw1John Kwagyan2Doris Ottie-Boakye3Global Societies Program, Delaware State UniversityPharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy, Center for Applied Data Science, Howard UniversityGraduate School, MPH Program, Howard UniversityCollege of Health Sciences, University of GhanaAbstract Background Better health literacy has been found to be associated with better health outcomes across varied populations. This study aimed to (1) examine the health literacy levels of individuals with respect to the extent to which they acquire, understand, appraise, and apply health information, and (2) to assess the relationship between health literacy and self-reported health in the state of Delaware. Methods The sampling frame consisted of 60 purposively selected faith-based organizations across the state of Delaware who predominantly serve minorities. Accounting for clustering design, a sample size was determined based on a Mixed Methods test. In total, 1095 participants responded to a survey questionnaire which included a validated short version of the European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability techniques, chi-square test of independence, and ordinal logistic regression. Results The study found that about a quarter of the participants had inadequate level of health literacy and about another quarter had problematic level of health literacy. These results are reflected across the health domains—health care, disease prevention, and health promotion. Health literacy was predictor of self-rated health. The odds of better self-rated health are 0.360 times lower for people with inadequate health literacy levels compared to those with sufficient health literacy. Conclusion Health literacy profoundly shapes health outcomes. The high proportion of people expressing difficulty concerning accessing, comprehending, appraising, and using health information in the health care, disease prevention, and health promotion domains in state of Delaware would require a concerted effort.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-024-00136-7Health literacyHealth outcomesDelawareSelf-reported healthFaith-based organizations |
| spellingShingle | Raymond A. Tutu Edmund Essah Ameyaw John Kwagyan Doris Ottie-Boakye Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study Discover Social Science and Health Health literacy Health outcomes Delaware Self-reported health Faith-based organizations |
| title | Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Health literacy levels and self-rated health in the state of Delaware: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | health literacy levels and self rated health in the state of delaware a cross sectional study |
| topic | Health literacy Health outcomes Delaware Self-reported health Faith-based organizations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-024-00136-7 |
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