Health Literacy Among A Young Adult Sample Of The Saudi Population: A Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Health Literacy is the public’s capacity to obtain, process, and utilize health information to make informed decisions concerning healthy living. The study explores its prevalence among the adult population in Saudi Arabia, focusing on identifying the influencing factors and proposing strategic recommendations to address disparities and improve healthcare outcomes.

Methods: By employing a cross-sectional design, this study aimed to include adults from all regions of KSA and utilized an online data collection method. A snowball sampling technique was employed. Data was collected using the Health Literacy Scale-12 (HLS-Q12) questionnaire between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2023. HLS-Q12 is a 12- statement questionnaire with responses ranging from easy to difficult. Each statement is assigned a score between 1 and 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 12 to 48. Four categories of health literacy can be identified based on the total score: illiteracy (score <27), marginal (27≤score<33), intermediate (33≤score<39), and advanced (score≥39). The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27, and multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables most significantly associated with the health literacy total score.

Results: A total of 1057 people responded to the survey. Most respondents were females (53%) and aged up to 40 years (71%). The majority of them were married, Saudi nationals, and employed. The mean health literacy score was found to be 36.3+6.7, with 34% of respondents classified as having Advanced knowledge and 39% classified as having Intermediate knowledge. The multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that factors associated with the health literacy total score included having a monthly income of more than SAR 15,000, being from the Northern region of Saudi Arabia, and having diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion: Mitigating disparities, reducing healthcare inequalities, and aligning Saudi Arabia’s healthcare objectives with national development goals could create a health-conscious population that recognizes the interventions and how to access them to promote public health.