Influencing factors of residents’ environmental health literacy in Shaanxi province, China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background This study comprehensively analyzed the basic conditions and influencing factors of the residents' environmental health literacy (EHL) level in Shaanxi Province, China in 2020, and provided a scientific basis for exploring new ideas and new methods to improve the EHL level of the whole people. Methods In the cross-sectional study with a multi-stage random sampling method, 1320 participants were recruited in 6 neighborhood committees (administrative villages) from the Shaanxi province of China between 15–69 years old. The Core Questions for Assessment of EHL of Chinese Citizens (Trial Implementation) was adopted to measure the EHL of the respondents. Results The survey showed the level of EHL of residents is 17.6% in Shaanxi in 2020. Among them, the basic concepts, basic knowledge, and basic skills classification literacy levels are 34.7%, 6.89%, and 37.95% respectively. The EHL ratio of rural residents is significantly lower than that of urban residents (12.38 vs. 29.02%). A noticeable difference was shown in various aspects and environmental health issues of EHL between urban and rural populations. Conclusions Many factors are affecting the level of EHL. Education and science popularization of basic environmental and health knowledge in key areas and populations should be strengthened, and behavioral interventions should be carried out according to the characteristics of the population.

Environmental Health Literacy Regarding Fine Particulate Matter and Related Factors Among Village Health Volunteers in Upper Northern Thailand

“…Individuals in the urban district of Chiang Mai, as well as both the rural and urban districts of Lampang, showed higher levels of EHL compared to their counterparts in Chiang Mai’s rural district, which is home to a minority group. This observation is consistent with a study conducted in China, which found that rural residents had significantly lower EHL than those living in urban areas [ 23 , 31 ]. These results suggest that geographical location may play a role in influencing EHL levels among participants.…”

“…The study found a positive association between higher education levels and enhanced EHL. This aligns with existing research that demonstrates a strong link between education and health literacy [ 23 , 31 , 32 ]. However, it is important to recognize that individuals with lower educational levels can also possess EHL.…”

“…When comparing our results with those from other countries using different EHL measurement tools, our study’s outcomes are in line with research among adult residents of Taiwan, where similar EHL levels were reported [ 22 ]. However, there is a notable difference with a study from China, which found the overall EHL level to be low [ 23 ]. This indicates that EHL levels can vary significantly between different countries or regions, potentially due to a variety of factors such as educational levels, the presence or absence of awareness campaigns, and cultural differences.…”

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“…Additionally, COVID-19 is more likely to occur in prosperous cities closer to the epicenter, located on higher altitudes, with high concentrations of air pollutants except NO 2 and O 3 , under conditions of extreme weather and high minimum relative humidity ( 19 ). Zhao et al ( 20 ) found the residents' environmental health literacy (EHL) level of urban residents is significantly higher than that of rural residents in Shaanxi Province, so they stressed the importance of education and popularizing basic environmental health knowledge.…”

Health Literacy and Environmental Risks Focusing Air Pollution: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in Germany

“…According to Gray et al [ 49 ] and Zhao et al [ 50 ], lower age should be significantly related to a higher HL value. We modified our regression model and exploratively tested whether age and the information sources “newspapers” and “TV commercials” showed a better fit (Model 2).…”