Health literacy in Czech population − results of the comparative representative research
Authors:
PhDr. Zdeněk Kučera; Univ. Prof. Jurgen Pelikan; MUDr. Alena Šteflová Mba
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav pro zdravotní gramotnost Praha
Published in:
Čas. Lék. čes. 2016; 155: 233-241
Category:
Original Article
Overview
Health literacy survey was carried out at the end of 2014 in the context of preparation of implementation strategy of the Program Health 2020 in the Czech Republic. The survey was conducted by the National Institute of Public Health with financial support from the Ministry of Health and the Czech WHO office. Sociological survey replicated comparative research conducted in eight EU countries in the first half of this decade. Representative survey in 1037 respondents in the age over 16 years, selected in all regions of the country. The identical methodology as used in the original study was utilized. Health literacy was measured in the areas of health care, disease prevention and health promotion.
We found that 59,4 % of respondents showed limited general health literacy; health literacy in health care is proved to be 49.5 % of the population, in the area of disease prevention it was 54.1 % respondents and in health promotion it was even even 64.3 % of respondents. Compared to the other countries surveyed, Czech Republic occupies the eighth, penultimate place. Health literacy is correlated negatively with age and positively with education. We found a strong social gradient of health literacy which rises with social status. Health literacy quite significantly influences the health status and health behaviors.
Key words:
health literacy, health behaviour, health promotion, social determinants of health
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Journal of Czech Physicians
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