Stefanie Harsch1, Asadullah Jawid2, M Ebrahim Jawid3, Luis Saboga Nunes1,4,5, Diana Sahrai6, Uwe H Bittlingmayer1. 1. University of Education Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. 2. American University of Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan. 3. Head of Shuhada Hospital, Ghazni, Afghanistan. 4. Coimbra Health School, PC, Coimba, Portugal. 5. Institute for Evidence Based Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. 6. FHNW, University of Education Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED: While multiple studies worldwide reveal the strong impact of various determinants on health literacy, empirical data on the link between health literacy and other important dimensions of health equity (such as quality of life, beliefs and health literacy in crisis-affected religious countries such as Afghanistan) is scarce. To inform and develop promising health promotion for people in need, we analysed the relationship between health literacy, quality of life and spiritual and religious beliefs. METHODS: In this first study on health literacy in Afghanistan, we interviewed 522 men and 324 women in the Ghazni province. Besides the HLS-EU-16, we used Quality of Life (WHO-QoL-BREF) and the WHO-SRPB-BREF questionnaires in Dari and Pashto. We performed descriptive, uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The levels of HL, QoL and SRPB_coping are comparatively low among Afghan men from the Ghazni province, but higher among women on all scales. HL and QoL are positively associated with education and negatively with age (in the female subsample). HL and QoL show a moderate correlation among women but not among men. We found mixed results for the relationship between SRPB and HL or QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights that health literacy is not a singular factor but related to wellbeing. SO WHAT?: Health education might be promising while combining health literacy to the idea of quality of life of everyone, even those living in poor and illiterate environments.
ISSUE ADDRESSED: While multiple studies worldwide reveal the strong impact of various determinants on health literacy, empirical data on the link between health literacy and other important dimensions of health equity (such as quality of life, beliefs and health literacy in crisis-affected religious countries such as Afghanistan) is scarce. To inform and develop promising health promotion for people in need, we analysed the relationship between health literacy, quality of life and spiritual and religious beliefs. METHODS: In this first study on health literacy in Afghanistan, we interviewed 522 men and 324 women in the Ghazni province. Besides the HLS-EU-16, we used Quality of Life (WHO-QoL-BREF) and the WHO-SRPB-BREF questionnaires in Dari and Pashto. We performed descriptive, uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The levels of HL, QoL and SRPB_coping are comparatively low among Afghan men from the Ghazni province, but higher among women on all scales. HL and QoL are positively associated with education and negatively with age (in the female subsample). HL and QoL show a moderate correlation among women but not among men. We found mixed results for the relationship between SRPB and HL or QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights that health literacy is not a singular factor but related to wellbeing. SO WHAT?: Health education might be promising while combining health literacy to the idea of quality of life of everyone, even those living in poor and illiterate environments.
Authors: Stefanie Harsch; Asadullah Jawid; Ebrahim Jawid; Luis Saboga-Nunes; Kristine Sørensen; Diana Sahrai; Uwe H Bittlingmayer Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-03-04
Authors: Junaidi Budi Prihanto; Endang Sri Wahjuni; Faridha Nurhayati; Ryota Matsuyama; Miwako Tsunematsu; Masayuki Kakehashi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-13 Impact factor: 3.390