Disability and health literacy in Korea: evidence from a national survey

Health literacy is important for effective disease prevention and health promotion. People with disabilities may require especially strong health literacy because they have higher unmet healthcare needs and more chronic disease. Although some studies suggest lower health literacy among people with disabilities, evidence from nationally representative data is limited. Using the 2021 Korea Health Panel Survey, we assessed health literacy among adults aged 19+ (N = 11,057) and compared those with and without disabilities defined by the National Disability Registration System. Sensitivity analyses used an alternative definition of disability derived from self-reported difficulties in daily activities. Linear regressions adjusted for gender, age, education, income, and chronic conditions. Adults with disabilities scored 0.94 points lower on the 16-point European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire scale than those without (p < 0.001). Under the alternative definition, the gap was larger at 1.49 points (p < 0.001). Differences varied by disability type: cognitive limitations were associated with the largest deficit (- 3.93, p < 0.001), followed by hearing limitations (- 2.01, p < 0.001); physical disabilities did not differ significantly. These findings indicate clear disparities in health literacy by disability status and heterogeneity across disability types in Korea. Programs and policies to improve health literacy among people with disabilities should be tailored to disability type.