AUTHOR=Tao Zhenbo , Xu Qianqian , Zhu Yingying , Mei Qiuhong , Feng Hongwei , Jin Qiuyan , Ding Shige , Dong Ying 

TITLE=Relationship between health literacy and COVID-19 knowledge: A cross-sectional study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1058029

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1058029

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Health literacy (HL) is a protective factor for some chronic diseases. However, its role in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not been clarified. This study aims to explore the association between HL and COVID-19 knowledge among residents in Ningbo.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A total of 6,336 residents aged 15–69 years in Ningbo were selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The “Health Literacy Questionnaire of Chinese Citizens (2020)” was used to evaluate the relationship between COVID-19 knowledge and HL. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney <italic>U</italic> test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The HL and COVID-19 knowledge levels of Ningbo residents were 24.8% and 15.7%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, people with adequate HL were the more likely to have adequate COVID-19 knowledge compared with those with limited HL (<italic>OR</italic> = 3.473, 95% CI = 2.974–4.057, <italic>P</italic> &lt;0.001). Compared with the limited HL group, the adequate HL group had a higher rate of COVID-19 knowledge, a more positive attitude, and a more active behavior.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>COVID-19 knowledge is significantly associated with HL. Improving HL may influence people's knowledge about COVID-19, thereby changing people's behaviors, and finally combating the pandemic.</p></sec>