Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behaviors Among Adults at Risk for Diabetes in a Rural Setting

Abstract

Due to the lack of baseline data assessing the health literacy and health behaviors of adults in a remotely located upland barangay, which employs vigorous statistical sampling, that could support the existing relationship between health literacy and health promoting behaviors among adults at risk for diabetes, this study came into fruition. This descriptive correlational research design study generally aimed to determine the existing correlation between the health literacy and health promoting behaviors of adults at high risk for diabetes. A total of 400 adults in Barangay Vizcaya, President Roxas, Capiz, aged 18-59 years old, were included in the final sample after they were were randomly selected utilizing a proportionate stratified sampling technique by age and sex. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using the Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior Questionnaires. Both adults at high and low risk for diabetes were found out to have limited health literacy and negative health promoting behaviors, with disease prevention and physical activity as having the worst health literacy and health behavior subscale scores, respectively. A statistically and practically significant difference exists between the health literacy of adults with high and low risk for diabetes, but no significant difference exists between their health promoting behaviors. Furthermore, there is a moderately positive correlation between the health literacy and health promoting behaviors of adults at high risk for diabetes. Thus, healthcare workers need to focus on increasing the health literacy of adults, especially those who are at high risk for diabetes, to facilitate development of health promoting behaviors. An all population-based inclusion should still be implemented when conducting health information campaigns, so as to reach the greater percentage of the adults who have lower levels of health literacy.