Low health literacy, poor knowledge, and practice among Turkish women patients undergoing cervical cancer screening

The objective of this study is to evaluate health literacy level, cervical cancer knowledge, and practice among women patients undergoing screening.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 455 women family health center patients. Health literacy level was evaluated by Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine. Patients characteristics, health behaviors, cervical cancer knowledge, and practice were assessed by a questionnaire form. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were applied.

This study has found that 19.3% women were in adequate health literacy level and 80.7% of were in low (inadequate or marginal) level. Health literacy levels were showed significant differences by age, education status, employment, self-perception of health, health condition and having health profession, smoking status, physical activity, body mass index, taking health care, skills and concern on materials. Inadequate health literacy was significantly higher among women patients with poor cervical cancer knowledge and practice. Based on binary regression analyses, adequate health literacy was significantly associated with younger ages.

Adequate health literacy was poor among women patients. Health literacy levels were affected by patient characteristics, health behaviors, and cervical cancer knowledge and practice.