Analysis of the Differences in Health Literacy and Influencing Factors Among Urban and Rural Elderly People in Yantai
Zhang Yueru
Wang Xue
Zhang Li
Cao Gaofang
Abstract：OBJECTIVE To understand the health literacy of elderly people in Yantai,explore the influencing factors of differences in health literacy between urban and rural elderly people,and provide ideas for improving the level of health literacy among the elderly and achieving the promotion of health literacy for the whole population.METHODS Using random sampling,two districts and two county-level cities in Yantai were selected as sample areas.A total of 305 elderly people aged 60 and above were surveyed face-to-face from June to December 2024.RESULTS The total score of health literacy among elderly people in Yantai was(44.36±6.02).The scores of the 6 dimensions from high to low were health information literacy(16.84±2.51),scientific literacy(14.30±2.96),chronic disease prevention literacy(4.28±1.38),basic medical literacy(3.44±1.21),infectious disease prevention literacy(2.78±0.99),and safety and first aid literacy(2.72±0.55).The health literacy of rural elderly people was lower than that of urban elderly people,with a significant difference in statistical analysis(P＜0.05).The results of multiple factor unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that average monthly family income and health cognitive level significantly influenced the health literacy qualification of rural elderly people(P＜0.05),while the method of medical expense coverage significantly influenced the health literacy qualification of urban elderly people(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION The health literacy of rural elderly people in Yantai is lower than that of urban elderly people.Average monthly family income and health cognitive level are influencing factors for the health literacy of rural elderly people in Yantai,while the method of medical expense coverage is an influencing factor for the health literacy of urban elderly people in Yantai.Therefore,promoting the improvement and equalization of health literacy among urban and rural elderly people in Yantai requires further implementation of national health policies and strengthening the targeted and effective regional health education.
Keywords：elderly peoplehealth literacyurban-rural disparitiesinfluencing factors
Publication Date：2025-10-10
Online Publishing Date：2025-11-13(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 79-83 )