SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS OF ADEQUATE HEALTH LITERACY AMONG TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS ATTENDING TWO GOVERNMENT HEALTH CLINICS IN THE DISTRICT OF KUALA SELANGOR

Abstract

Background: This study aims to determine the socio-demographic predictors of adequate health literacy among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients attending two government health clinics in the district of Kuala Selangor.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire was performed with a total of 200 respondents with T2DM. The respondents were selected using systematic random sampling from a list of T2DM patients attending the two health clinics. The questionnaire consists of 2 sections on socio-demography characteristics and MY-TOFHLA. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. The predictors were then analysed using multiple logistic regression.

Results: The response rate was 86.9% and85% of respondents had adequate health literacy. The odds of having adequate health literacy among those with secondary/tertiary education were 6 times higher compared to those with primary education [AOR = 5.990, 95% CI (1.301, 27.577), p = 0.022]. The odds of having adequate health literacy also increased by 5 times with 1 unit increase of household income [AOR = 4.836, 95% CI (1.152, 20.306), p = 0.031].

Conclusion: The prevalence of adequate health literacy was high among the T2DM patients in this study population. The predictors of adequate health literacy are level of education and household income.

Keywords: Health literacy, predictors, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sociodemographic