Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population

• Main Authors: P. V. Asharani, Jue Hua Lau, Kumarasan Roystonn, Fiona Devi, Wang Peizhi, Saleha Shafie, Sherilyn Chang, Anitha Jeyagurunathan, Chua Boon Yiang, Edimansyah Abdin, Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar, Chee Fang Sum, Eng Sing Lee, Rob Van Dam, Siow Ann Chong, Mythily Subramaniam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: health literacy; diabetes knowledge; lifestyle; chronic diseases; physical activity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9316

Health literacy is a key determinant of the public health and health climate of the nation. This study examined the functional health literacy of the nation, factors associated with health literacy, and its relationship with diabetes recognition. This cross-sectional survey recruited participants (N = 2895) who were 18 years and above from a population registry through disproportionate stratified sampling. The Brief Health Literacy Screen and other questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews, in one of the four national languages (English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil). The majority (80.5%) had adequate functional health literacy and were able to recognise symptoms of diabetes correctly (83.5% overall; 83.7% and 82.2% in those with adequate and inadequate health literacy, respectively). Those with inadequate health literacy had a higher incidence of chronic conditions (<i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to those with adequate health literacy in bivariate analysis. The majority of the sample had sufficient levels of physical activity (83.3%), and more than half reported an unhealthy lifestyle (57.4%). Older age, Chinese ethnicity, those who were employed, with lower education (secondary or below), and were married had significantly higher odds of inadequate health literacy. Health literacy was not associated with lifestyle, physical activity, chronic conditions and diabetes recognition. Health literacy interventions should focus on the disadvantaged social groups for improving their health literacy.