Health Literacy in Rural Areas of China: Hypertension Knowledge Survey

Abstract

We conducted this study to determine levels and correlates of hypertension knowledge among rural Chinese adults, and to assess the association between knowledge levels and salty food consumption among hypertensive and non-hypertensive populations. This face-to-face cross sectional survey included 665 hypertensive and 854 non-hypertensive respondents in the rural areas of Heilongjiang province, China. Hypertension knowledge was assessed through a 10-item test; respondents received 10 points for each correct answer. Among respondents, the average hypertension knowledge score was 26 out of a maximum of 100 points for hypertensive and 20 for non-hypertensive respondents. Hypertension knowledge was associated with marital status, education, health status, periodically reading books, newspapers or other materials, history of blood pressure measurement, and attending hypertension educational sessions. Hypertension knowledge is extremely low in rural areas of China. Hypertension education programs should focus on marginal populations, such as individuals who are not married or illiterate to enhance their knowledge levels. Focusing on educational and literacy levels in conjunction with health education is important given illiteracy is still a prominent issue for the Chinese rural population.

Hypertension (HTN) Knowledge and with Its Associated Factors: About 456 Outpatients Seen in Cardiology Department in University Hospital (UH) Gabriel Touré—Bamako (Mali)

“…In our study sex was not found as factor our model (Table 4) contrary to the results of Everett [22]. Factors as found by Li [9] could not be verified in our study due to different study design. From the factors studied by Sanne et al [23], only HTN duration was found in our study as determinant to knowledge.…”

“…Factors known to be associated with awareness, knowledge of HTN are family history of HTN, overweight, worker status [8], marital status, education, health status, periodically reading books, newspapers or other materials, history of blood pressure measurement, and attending hypertension educational sessions [9].…”

The Relationship between Health Literacy and Hypertension Treatment Control and Follow-up

“…In a study by Lee et al investigating health literacy in rural China, improvement in blood pressure knowledge was effective in reducing complications and improving hypertension [14]. In a study conducted in Greece, the quality of hypertension treatment was higher in patients with higher knowledge, which agrees with the latter study [15].…”

Changes in Hypertension-Related Knowledge and Behavior and Their Associations with Socioeconomic Status among Recently Urbanized Residents in China: 2013–2016

“…Socioeconomic status (SES), which is consisted of factors such as education, occupation, and income, is considered to be the determinant of health-related knowledge and behavior, individuals with low SES more often have poor knowledge and unhealthy behavior [13]. Some studies have demonstrated the influence of SES on hypertension-related knowledge [14,15]. Xia Li et al revealed that hypertension-related knowledge of the illiterate was always lower than those with primary or higher education in rural areas of China, whether in hypertensive or nonhypertensive individuals [14].…”