Effect of online health education on health literacy among migrant population: a structural equation model analysis

  Objective   To examine the influence of online health education on health literacy among migrant population and to provide references for conducting online health education in migrant population.

  Methods   From the dataset of National Dynamic Migrant Population Survey conducted in May 2016 across China, we extracted health literacy-related information for 8 554 migrant people aged 15 – 69 years. Structural equation model was used to analyze the effect and influence path of online health education on health literacy in the migrant population.

  Results   Among the migrant people surveyed, the health literacy rate was 37.16% and in terms of health knowledge, healthy lifestyles and basic health-related skills, the health literacy rate were 38.93%, 42.89%, and 33.28%, respectively. The proportion of the migrant people ever receiving online health education was relatively low; only 17.56% and 9.59% of the migrant people reported acquiring health education through WeChat/official account/application and website. Compared to the migrant people not receiving online health education, the migrant people acquiring health education through WeChat/official account/application and website had significantly higher health literacy rate for health knowledge (44.27% vs. 37.79% and 51.95% vs. 37.55%), basic health related skills (51.46% vs. 41.07% and 56.95% vs. 41.40%), and healthy lifestyles (39.48% vs. 31.96% and 45.73% vs. 31.96%) (P < 0.01 for all). The results of structure equation model analysis demonstrated that acquiring online health education exerted a positive and direct impact on the improvement of health literacy for health knowledge and basic health related skills (\hat \gamma _\rm1 = 0.119, \hat \gamma _\rm2 = 0.040; both P < 0.05); the results also revealed that knowledge-based health literacy plays an intermediary role on the improvement of health literacy for basic health related skills and healthy lifestyles (\hat \gamma _\rm3 = 0.115, \hat \gamma _\rm4 = 0.113; both P < 0.01).

  Conclusion   Without time and space limitation, online health education is advantageous in promoting health literacy among migrant population in China.