H. M. B. H. Denuwara|Nalika Gunawardena
Level of health literacy and factors associated with it among school teachers in an education zone in Colombo, Sri Lanka
University of Colombo
health literacy refers peoples competencies access understand judge apply health information healthcare disease prevention health promotion study aimed describe level health literacy factors associated among school teachers education zone colombo sri lanka crosssectional study among 520 teachers measured health literacy using selfadministered culturally adapted sinhalese translation health literacy surveyeuropean union hlseu health literacy assessment based selfreported competencies access understand judge apply health information domains disease prevention healthcare health promotion based score respondents divided four levels health literacy inadequate problematic sufficient excellent well two levels limited adequate factors associated limited health literacy determined using univariate analysis assessing associations using chi square test multivariate analysis also done using multiple logistic regression determine factors associated limited health literacy controlled confounding effects p value 005 determined significance response rate 965 mean age 43years sd 975 817 n 410 females 661 n 332 graduates 36 n 18 taught subject health 183 n 92 taught science limited health literacy found 325 95 ci 284366 675 95 ci 634716 612 95 ci 569655 64 95 ci 4385 showed adequate sufficient excellent levels respectively problematic inadequate health literacy 315 95 ci 274356 1 95 ci 0119 univariate analysis showed member health clubwelfare group p 0002 done special course health p 0009 getting opportunity participatebeing exposed health awareness program p 0007 visit medical practitionerpreventive health staff six months p 0049 accessing print media obtain general information p 0007 accessing print media obtain health information six months p 0009 poor health knowledge p 0036 factors associated limited health literacy modifiable nonmodifiable factors age 45 years p 0025 service teacher 10 years p 0012 multivariate analysis performed service teacher 10 years p 0042 monthly income rs5000000 p 0024 member health clubwelfare group p 0034 visit medical practitionerpreventive health staff six months p 0002 found associated limited health literacy among school teachers adjusted effect confounding factors model high proportions limited health literacy among school teachers colombo education zone need interventional programmes brought attention policy makers education health sectors improving health literacy among teachers adoption health promoting school concept evidence based path improve health literacy highlighted advocacy efforts identified factors associated limited health literacy taken interventional efforts