Assessment of the Level of Health Literacy Among Primary School Health Educators in Kerman Province

Abstract

Aim: Health literacy is the understanding of the concept of health care and the utilization of this knowledge to improve a healthy lifestyle. Health educators in primary schools serve as one of the influential factors in people's health and consequently promote community health. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the level of health literacy of health educators in primary schools in Kerman Province, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Primary schools in Kerman in 2018. The statistical population was all health educators who were selected through census sampling. The data were collected using the standard health literacy questionnaire of the urban population of Iran (HELIA). The data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive statistics tests, T-TEST and ANOVA. Results: The mean score of health literacy dimensions for health educators was 75.87 in the reading dimension, 76.84 in the access dimension, 85.88 in the comprehension dimension, 77.62 in the evaluation dimension and 77.76 in the decision and behavior dimension. Based on the average obtained, the overall health literacy was sufficient and excellent. Conclusion: This study detected that the level of health literacy of health educators, especially in terms of understanding, is sufficient and excellent. The Internet has been cited as the most widely used source of information for educators' health information. Therefore, designing and implementing a website by education officials in the field of health and public health will be useful for the promotion of health educators’ health literacy .