Critical Health Literacy Promotion in a Rural Community: Findings from a Participatory Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI25.19.40270Keywords:
health literacy, community health nursing, community health services, community-based participatory research, health promotionAbstract
Background: Health literacy is essential for empowering communities to adopt healthy behaviors and utilize health services effectively. In rural areas, however, limited access to information and healthcare can significantly affect health literacy levels due to sociodemographic and environmental factors.
Objective: To assess health literacy levels in a rural community and, using the PRECEDE dimension, identify determinants and priority areas for a participatory intervention.
Methodology: A mixed-methods study was conducted. The quantitative component included 381 participants and used the Portuguese version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-PT). The qualitative component comprised two focus groups and a Delphi panel with community representatives based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model.
Results: A large proportion of participants (81.1%) demonstrated inadequate/ problematic health literacy levels, which were significantly associated with age, education, and employment status. The qualitative analysis identified predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors and prioritized interventions focused on improving accessibility to information, strengthening digital skills, and engaging local partners.
Conclusion: Promoting health literacy requires contextualized, participatory strategies that foster empowerment, equity, and sustainability, as evidenced by the identification of low health literacy levels in this community.
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References
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