Health literacy and its influencing factors among high school students in Guangdong prorince

ObjectiveTo examine the health literacy and its influencing factors among high school students in Guangdong province and to provide basis for school health education. MethodsThe "Health Literacy Survey of Chinese Citizens" desinged by Health Ministry of Chia was used to investigate 1 606 high school students. ResultsThe rate of health literacy of the students was 12.3%.The awareness rates of basic knowledge and ideas,healthy lifestyle and behavior,and health skills were 22.4%,6.9%,and 56.4%,respectively.The health literacy of students from city,Pearl River Delta region,single child and the students with good academic archievement were 15.4%,18.0%,20.3%,and 16.0%,which were higher than the students from countryside(9.3%),non-Pearl River Delta region(9.2%),non-single child(10.8%),and the students with poor academic archievement(5.3%),with significant differences among the groups(P<0.05 for all).Parents’ education and occupation significantly affected on the health literacy of the students (P<0.05).The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that the students from in Pearl River Delta region(odds ratio=1.94),with the general/good grades(OR=2.75/2.48),with father having high school and higher education(OR=1.90/2.46),and with mother working as medical or technical profession(OR=5.24)had a higher score of health literacy. ConclusionThe health literacy level of high school students in Guangdong province is low.The residential area,academic archievement,the occupation of the father and mother are influencing factors of health literacy.