Analysis of health literacy level and influencing factors among freshmen in a university in Beijing

Sun Mengnan; Xu Peng; Xu Qin; Wang Xiaoning; Guo Jianli; Liang Wannian

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2025.04.05

Abstract：Objective To understand the current status,characteristics,and influencing factors of health literacy among first-year freshmen in a university in Beijing,providing a scientific basis for university health education.Methods All 3,686 newly enrolled undergraduate freshmen at a university in Beijing in 2023 were selected as participants.The"National Residents'Health Literacy Monitoring Questionnaire"(hereinafter referred to as the"Health Literacy Questionnaire")was adopted.A-nalysis of variance and t-tests were used to compare health literacy scores across different sociodemographic characteristics;chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to compare health literacy levels and analyze influencing factors of health lit-eracy levels,respectively.Results A total of 3,394 valid questionnaires were collected.The overall health literacy level was 87.95%.Literacy levels in three dimensions were:basic knowledge and concepts(54.13%),healthy lifestyles and behaviors(91.92%),and health skills(83.91%).Literacy across six categories was:scientific health perspectives(96.26%),infec-tious disease prevention and treatment(78.76%),chronic disease prevention and treatment(70.06%),safety and first aid(82.12%),basic medical care(83.09%),and health information(91.96%).Multivariate regression showed ethnicity and students'place of origin significantly influenced health literacy levels(P<0.05).Conclusion Freshmen at this university in Beijing exhibit high health literacy.Health education and promotion should prioritize basic knowledge and concepts,prevention and treatment of chronic disease and infectious disease,with focused attention on ethnic minority students and those from eco-nomically disadvantaged regions.