Objective To analyze the health literacy level and its variation tendency during 2012 – 2021 among residents in Shandong province for the formulation of health policies.
Methods The study data were from the health literacy surveillances yearly conducted during 2012 – 2021 among a total of 41 319 permanent residents aged 15 – 69 years in Shangdong province. Complex sampling method was used to weight the health literacy level of the residents. Annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) for in the ratios of the respondents with health literacy were calculated and Joinpoint regression model was adopted to assess the changing trend of health literacy in the residents.
Results The annual ratio of the residents with health literacy (with a total score of over 80 points for the Health Literacy Questionnaire for Chinese Residents used in national surveillances) was 8.28%, 10.52%, 11.13%, 12.08%, 13.48%, 15.77%, 17.60%, 21.56%, 22.02%, and 25.81% for years from 2012 to 2021, showing an upward trend (AAPC = 12.838%, P < 0.001) during the 10-year period. Compared to that among all the residents, significantly greater variation in the health literacy annual ratio was observed among the rural residents (AAPC =13.940%, P < 0.001) and the residents being illiterate/semiliterate (AAPC = 15.248%, P = 0.045) ; but a lesser variation in the health literacy annual ratio was observed among the residents aged 65 – 69 years (AAPC = 9.703%, P = 0.008).
Conclusion The health literacy has been steadily improved among the residents in Shandong province during 2012 – 2021; but the health literacy was at a relatively low level among the residents living in rural regions, being illiterate/semiliterate, and at elder ages, suggesting that health education needs to be much more promoted in the populations.
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