The Extent of Health Literacy and its Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants in Shiraz City

Health literacy is one of the most important indicators that can affect the status and severity of health-oriented behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to health literacy.

This research studied 385 people aged 18 to 65 years in Shiraz in southern Iran by survey method and using cluster sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20 and descriptive statistics and statistical tests comparing means (t and f), Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression.

Bivariate analysis showed that with health literacy is directly related to increasing age, number of years of education, and income. These analyses also showed that marital status, employment status, ethnicity, and class affiliation have a statistically significant relationship with health literacy. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the variables of number of years of education, religion, and status of employment (housewife) have a significant effect on the health literacy of respondents.

Adolescents, housewives, and religious minorities can be considered vulnerable groups that should be given special attention in programs and policies related to promoting health literacy.