Health literacy and prevention practices for COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Brazilian adults

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i16.23839

Keywords:

Health literacy; SARS-CoV; Epidemiologia; Saúde pública.

Abstract

Objective: Was to assess the health literacy of the population in the city of Jundiai in relation to the adoption of practical measures to prevent the disease COVID-19. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 290 adults of epidemiological survey about COVID-19, being 150 with negative tests and 140 with positive tests. Through phone calls, it was applied the Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14), between October 2020 and April 2021. The Chi-Square test (p<0,05) was performed. Results: The majority of the sample was between 18 to 39 years old (46,6%, n=135), women 63,1% (n=183), with higher education 43,4% (n=126) and income of 3 or more minimum waged 49,3% (n=143). As for the routine, 62,1% (n=180) didn’t go out or just did it when necessary, 83,4% (n=242) followed with their families preventive measures and 68,3% (n=198) followed social distancing orientation. Low Health literacy was found in 48,6% (n=141) and it was associated with older age (p=0,004) and also with not understanding social distance as a preventive measure for COVID-19 (p=0,047). Conclusion: The results showed a connection between low health literacy and lack of awareness about social distance being a preventive measure, demonstrating how important is to invest in public policies of health literacy in order to control the pandemic.

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Published

16/12/2021

How to Cite

FEDE, B. P. .; ARTUSO, L. R. .; TENANI, C. F. .; LINO, C. M. .; BATISTA, M. J. . Health literacy and prevention practices for COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Brazilian adults . Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 10, n. 16, p. e425101623839, 2021. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v10i16.23839. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/23839. Acesso em: 18 apr. 2024.

Issue

Section

Health Sciences