Chipiwa Marimwe|Ros Dowse
Health literacy test for limited literacy populations (HELT-LL): Validation in South Africa
Rhodes University|Rhodes University
majority health literacy measures emanate highincome countries inappropriate use limited literacy individuals usually excluded participation health literacy studies currently appropriate health literacy measure educationally diverse south african population study reports validation health literacy test limited literacy individuals heltll conducted primary healthcare clinics 210 isixhosaspeaking patients maximum 12 years schooling heltll varied cognitive demands assesses functional literacy skills well local burden disease knowledge also includes selfreported questions multidimensional screener functional health literacy msfhl used comparator almost third study population 324 inadequate health literacy low 176 achieving adequate health literacy rating majority patients 659 inadequate health literacy minimal formal schooling 0 4 years heltll score significantly associated education p 0001 age p 0001 english proficiency p 0001 significant concurrent validity msfhl established heltll first general health literacy measure developed south africa aim enabling evaluation health literacy limited literacy individuals shown valid reliable measure health literacy good discriminatory ability amongst participants varying degrees schooling afforded preliminary insight health literacy vulnerable public sector patient population south africa