Health Literacy and Its Association with Knowledge and Antibiotics Self-inflected Use among Women in Zahedan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Antibiotics self-medication is a global concern, and more common especially in low-income countries, and cause problems such as antibiotic resistance and drug toxicity. This study examined the levels of health literacy (HL) and their association with the knowledge of antibiotics and its self-inflected use among women in Zahedan. The present study was an analytic –descriptive study conducted on 400 women living in Zahedan from October 1 to November 25, 2021. The data collection method was self-explanatory. Antibiotics self-medication and the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) questionnaires were used to collect data. Chi-square and two-variable logistic regression test were applied using SPSS software version 19, (p= 0.05). Education had a higher correlation with the correct antibiotics consumption compared to the only knowledge (OR=2.812), and the higher levels of health literacy were related to correct antibiotics consumption (OR=0.480). Education level also had a significant relationship with the knowledge level regarding correct antibiotics consumption (OR=6.845). Furthermore, the domains of understanding (OR=1.035) and evaluation (OR=1.022) had a significant relationship with having a good knowledge. The findings showed that at all levels of health literacy, the optimal level of knowledge and correct antibiotics consumption were low, and the level of health literacy supports proper knowledge about the correct antibiotics consumption, so it is suggested that the level of health literacy and knowledge be improved to increase the rational use of antibiotics presenting understandable content in educational programs of the national media.