The relationship between health literacy status and utilization of health services in women referring to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali hossein Ghasemi 1
farideh kabomir 2
hajjar hamidavy 3
zivar sabaghinejad 4
1 Associate Professor, Medical Library and Information Science, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2 PhD, Medical Library and Information Science, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
3 MSc, Medical Library and Information Science, Department of Medical Librarianship and Information, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
4 Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Medical Library & Information Science, Ahvaz
10.48305/him.2025.45220.1301
Abstract
Objective: Health literacy is a range of skills of individuals to search, retrieve and use health information in order to improve health levels and quality of life and it can be effective in the informed using of health services by individuals.

Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted using a survey method, and was cross-sectional in terms of time and in 1403 among 316 women referring to the clinic of Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz. In addition to demographic information, the research tools were the shortened adult health literacy questionnaire and the researcher-made questionnaire on the utilization of health services. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 software and univariate statistical tests, independent t-test, Scheffe post hoc test, analysis of variance and Pearson correlation.

Results: A significant relationship was observed between health literacy and age group, education level, employment status, place of residence, and between health service utilization with age, education level and employment status.

Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, many demographic and sociocultural variables, including age, education level, and job, have a significant relationship with the health literacy status of individuals, and it seems that having a low age, high education level and job among young women has a positive relationship with health literacy status and also with the utilization of health services.

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