The association between health literacy and self-medication behaviors among women referred to comprehensive health care centers in Sirjan, Iran, in 2017

Abstract

Article Info Background: Self-medication is a challenging issue in health care systems and it seems that health literacy is a determining factor in safe self-medication behaviors. Limited studies are available in this field. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between health literacy and self-medicating behaviors among women referred to comprehensive health care centers Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 540 women, who were referred to comprehensive health care centers in 2017, were selected randomly and their health literacy and self-medicating behaviors were assessed through self-reporting method. The data collection tools were the standard Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), and the self-medication behaviors questionnaires. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Results: The results showed that the majority of women (94.6%) had inadequate health literacy. More than 89% of them approved self-medication and more than 98% of them performed self-medication. Older women and those who had a higher education level had lower mean health literacy scores (P = 0.021 and P = 0.001, respectively). There was no significant relationship between self-medication and demographic characteristics. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between health literacy and confirmation and performance of self-medication. Conclusions: The women had low health literacy levels and high incorrect selfmedication behaviors. Self-medication behaviors are performed independent of health literacy. It seems a reform in women's health programs and the empowerment of women in the target population is necessary in order to promote health literacy skills and appropriate self-medication behaviors.

Does Increasing Health Literacy Reduce Self-medication? A Case Study of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

“…According to the results, health literacy as one of the important factors in promoting community health has a significant relationship with self-medication behavior, but in the study population, this relationship was negligible contrary to expectations. The findings of this study confirmed those of some studies on the relationship between health literacy and self-medication, including Javadzade et al ( 16), Muflih et al (25), and Kamran et al (24); however, the results of the current study do not match the findings of Mousaeipour et al (23). In explaining this result, it can be stated that health literacy as a valuable asset by increasing cognitive skills (20), as well as skills needed for the integration of health information, direction, processing, problem-solving, and decision-making (21), enables people to carefully evaluate health-associated issues before any action, and all of their aspects and effects, thus individuals make decisions about self-medication with greater sensitivity.…”

“…Given the concept of self-medication and its harms, as well as the concept and positive consequences of health literacy, it is expected that there is a relationship between the level of health literacy and self-medication because insufficient health literacy is associated with declining health in society (23). However, the results of studies on the relationship between health literacy and self-medication show conflicting results.…”

“…However, the results of studies on the relationship between health literacy and self-medication show conflicting results. For example, Mousaeipour et al indicated no significant relationship between health literacy and confirmation and performance of selfmedication among women referred to comprehensive health care centers in Sirjan (23). Conversely, Kamran et al reported that there was a significant relationship between total health literacy and general health situation with selfmedication, and the prevalence of self-medication among participants with poor and highly poor self-rated physical and mental health was significantly higher than in other participants (24).…”

Relationship between the Health Literacy and Self-Medication Behavior of Primary Health Care Clientele in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Public Health

“…Conversely, the findings of the current study do not correspond to those of other studies, which revealed that patients who self-medicate also demonstrated greater levels of health literacy [ 81 ]. The discrepancy could be due to other variables, such as poverty, the fact that the participants in Mousaeipour et al’s [ 82 ] study were women and legislation governing the trade and use of drugs. Self-medication practices can develop in different countries with varying patterns, given that most human behaviors are influenced by ideas, ideologies and conventions depending on the cultural and social environment of the area [ 83 ].…”