Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Given Bangladesh’s rising diabetes burden and scarce data on health literacy, this study evaluated health literacy levels and associated sociodemographic factors among diabetic adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Mujibur Rahman Memorial Diabetic Hospital, Kushtia, Bangladesh from November 2024 to March 2025, using face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires. Health literacy was assessed using the 47-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Among the 465 participants, health literacy levels were distributed as follows: 72.7% inadequate, 16.3% problematic, and 11% sufficient. Key sociodemographic factors such as gender, age, and educational attainment were associated with health literacy. Specifically, sufficient health literacy was higher among male participants (OR = 2.87; 95% CI = 1.28–6.44; p = 0.011). Older adults (OR = 0.15; 95%CI = 0.05–0.52; p = 0.002) and participants with lower educational attainment [e.g., primary education (OR = 0.02; 95%CI = 0.01–0.05; p < 0.001) and secondary education (OR = 0.04; 95%CI = 0.01–0.12; p < 0.001)] were less likely to demonstrate sufficient health literacy than their respective counterparts. Future research should both expand the geographic scope of assessment and explore underlying factors through mixed-methods approaches.
Source: Discover Public Health
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7128778593