Feasibility Testing of a Health Literacy Intervention With Adolescents and Young Adults in South Africa: The LifeLab Soweto Programme

Abstract

Introduction

Low health literacy levels during adolescence and young adulthood (AYA) may impact acute healthcare access and longer-term health outcomes. Previous research in South African AYA suggests that health literacy levels are typically suboptimal but few interventions exist. This study aimed to test the acceptability and feasibility of a co-created, interactive health literacy intervention (LifeLab-Soweto) with AYA in Soweto, South Africa.

Methods

Participants (18–24 years, n = 107) were recruited (September–October 2022) from a youth development centre database by telephone and through snowball sampling. AYA involved in the co-creation process were excluded. Pre-intervention data on participant age, gender identity and ability to correctly identify a normal blood pressure (BP) reading were captured via survey. Post-intervention, participants repeated the BP question and completed a satisfaction survey. Additionally, n = 31 AYA agreed to an in-depth interview about their LifeLab-Soweto experience. Interview transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Participants (mean age 21 ± 2.4 years; 59% female, 39% male, 2% nonbinary) generally viewed LifeLab-Soweto as well-designed, relevant, simple to follow, fun, useful, and interesting, with most reporting an increased understanding of health and that they would use this new knowledge. Comparing pre- and post-intervention BP question accuracy, males showed the greatest improvement in scores. Interviews showed that, while LifeLab-Soweto was not what AYA were expecting, gains in health knowledge led AYA to consider changes in health behaviours including accessing health services.

Conclusion

Life-Soweto presents an acceptable, feasible and relevant health literacy intervention for South African youth with potential to improve health literacy and health behaviours.

Patient and Public Involvement

To ensure the health literacy intervention was contextually relevant, age appropriate, and gender inclusive, a group of 40 adolescents (aged 18–24 years, male, female and non-binary) were recruited from Soweto to firstly identify the health topics that were most pressing in their daily lives. This youth advisory group identified stress as a major challenge impacting physical and mental health, health behaviour and daily functioning. Together with the youth group, researchers from South Africa and the UK worked to co-develop the health literacy intervention that delivers self-directed exploration and learning of how stress impacts health, behaviour and well-being. This manuscript describes how this cocreated intervention was received by a broader range of South African youth who were not involved in the cocreation process.