Heather F. McClintock|Julia M. Alber|Sarah J. Schrauben|Carmella M. Mazzola|Douglas J. Wiebe
Constructing a measure of health literacy in Sub-Saharan African countries
Arcadia University|California Polytechnic State University|University of Pennsylvania|Arcadia University|University of Pennsylvania
sought develop evaluate health literacy measure multinational study examine demographic characteristics associated health literacy data obtained demographic health surveys conducted 200615 14 countries subsaharan africa surveys countries translated local languages appropriate identified eight questions corresponded national academy medicine nam definition health literacy factor analysis used extract one measure health literacy logistic regression employed examine relationship demographic characteristics health literacy total 224 751 individuals ages 15 49 years included derived health literacy measure demonstrated good internal consistency cronbachs 072 good content validity prevalence high health literacy overall 3577 females 3408 males 3917 less equal primary education 893 secondary education 6940 complete secondary 8435 high health literacy varied across nations 851 niger 6389 namibia first known study evaluate measure health literacy relying nam definition utilizing large sample 14 countries subsaharan africa study derived robust indicator namdefined health literacy indicator could used examine determinants outcomes health literacy additional countries