HOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AFFECT HEALTH LITERACY? ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH LITERACY LEVEL IN DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES IN INDIA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to assess the impact of socioeconomic status based on gender, age group, education, and income level of people on the level of health literacy. DESIGN AND SETTING: The study uses the primary data of 380 respondents belonging to various socio-economic classes. It is a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: The study shows that the level of health literacy is significantly affected by the educational and income level of the respondents. Health literacy is also uniquely affected by age groups. Few of the nine parameters of health literacy are affected positively in rising age groups and few are affected negatively by rising age-group. The study finds that health literacy is not affected by gender differences. CONCLUSION: Health literacy plays a vital role in building the health status of people and helping the effective utilization of healthcare services. It is found that level of health literacy is affected by the socio-economic status of the people. It is the need of the hour to build health literacy in the weaker section of society with the help of policy tools.