Health literacy among occupational populations in Shenyang municipality

Objective To examine the status quo of health literacy among occupational populations in Shenyang municipality.Methods Using stratified cluster random sampling,we conducted a face-to-face household interview among 1 014 adult permanent residents with various occupations with a questionnaire on three dimensions and six aspects of health literacy in urban and rural Shenyang between March and June 2013.Results The participants included 300 public sector employees,471 farmers,and 243 industrial workers.The proportion of the participants with general health literacy was 17.9% and the proportions of the participants with basic health knowledge and concept,healthy life style and behaviors,and fundamental health skills were 27.8%,12.4%,and 16.3%.Among the participants,the proportions of having general literacy were 40.6% for scientific kealth concept,8.8% for infectious disease prevention,21.8% for chronic disease prevention,34.7% for safety and first aid,7.8% for basic medication,and 13.0% for information acguisition,respectively.Conclusion The level of health literacy is relatively high among occupational populations in Shenyang municipality but there is a difference in the level among the public sector employees,farmers,and industrial workers,suggesting that specific health education is demanded in various occupational populations.