Abstract
TO determine the relationship Of health literacy with perceived need Of health information and health related
behaviors in urban population of Karadü.
Study Design: Cross sectional survey.
place and Duration of Study: Community based study carried out on the students of Institute of Business Management
and Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, Dow University of Health Sciences forfour months during Februaryto May 2015.
Materials and A cross-sectional survey was performed in Karachi using a 33 item validated questionnaire on
randomly selected subjects using simple random sampling. Descriptive and analytical data analyses were carried out
using SPSS version 20. Linear regression was used to find the association between health literacy and perceived health
information needs as well as preventive actions. The information regarding demographics was obtained using
dichotomous and multichotomous iterns, health literacy, perceived health information needs and preventive actions was
collected using Likerttype scales.
Results: The participants had a mean of 27.8±8.3 years With at least intermediate level education. The mean health
literacy score Of respondents was calculated to bell.14 ±2.84 on 19 point scale (Range 4-16). On perceived health
information needs, the mean score turned out to be 28.27 ± 8.52 on a 51 point scale (Range 13ut7). As for preventive
health actions on a 48 point scale, the mean score was 21.47 t 8.61 (Range 8-44). Linear regression analysis showed a weak
positive (r=O.383) relationship between health literacy and preventive health actions (ß=g.25 R2=O.147, 0.05),
howæver, a weak negative (r: -0.306) relationship between health literacy and perceived information needs (B 38.58
Conclusion: Health literacy has an association With preventive actions against different diseases, however it also
decreases their feeling of need for more health education and may result in a false sense of security. It is important that
proper literacy programs must be initiated to increase preventive measures against common diseases in the society, so
that the burden and costofthese diseases can be minimized.
Muhammad Yahya Noori, Mehak Kazi, Amna Shahid, Asima Faisal. (2015) The Relationship of Health Literacy, Perceived Health Information Need and Preventive Health Related Behavior in Urban Karachi, Journal of Islamic International Medical College, Volume-10, Issue-3.
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