Prevalence of health literacy and its correlates among patients with type II diabetes in Kuwait: A population based study

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of health literacy among patients with type II diabetes and investigate its association with several covariates. No studies were conducted in the Arabian Gulf region characterizing such factors for this population.

Methods: A cross sectional study was implemented in which 359 type II diabetes patients were recruited from diabetes centers across Kuwait. Health literacy was measured by STOFHLA. Multivariate linear regression was applied to investigate the relationship between health literacy and several covariates.

Results: About 44.5% had inadequate, 19.5% marginal, and 35.5% adequate health literacy. Patients with inadequate health literacy were more likely to be older, females, widowed, low education, with income less than 500 KD/month. Multivariate linear regression indicated residence, nationality, education level, and age were significantly associated with health literacy. Adding marital status and gender, hierarchical linear regression revealed that 43.4% of the variability was accounted for.

Conclusion: Inadequate health literacy is high in Kuwait. Interventions should be implemented to improve health literacy. This will reduce the prevalence of diabetes-related complications, produce better diabetes outcomes, and improve patients' quality-of-life. Health literacy should be an integral part to health promotion and chronic diseases' management programs in Kuwait.

Keywords: Health literacy; Kuwait; Multivariate regression; STOFHLA; Type II diabetes.