Unlocking Health Literacy: Key Influencers Among University Students in Kazakhstan’s Diverse Academic Disciplines

Understanding Health Literacy: A Look at Participants

The reliability of the HLS19-Q12 tool was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. This score tells us how dependable the questionnaire is, with results ranging from 0 to 1. The Kazakh version scored 0.94, while the Russian version scored 0.93, indicating both are very reliable.

A total of 3,230 people responded to the surveys. Among them, 56% were female. The average age of participants was about 20 years, and the average body mass index (BMI) was around 21.5. Participants came from all 17 regions of Kazakhstan, including its major cities.

Most of the students (67.5%) lived in urban areas, with many residing with family. A smaller number lived in dorms or rented apartments. Interestingly, a significant majority had both parents alive.

In terms of education, the respondents were fairly balanced across fields of study. About 36.5% were in Humanities and Social Sciences, around 31.5% in Health Sciences, and about 31.8% in Engineering.

Most of the participants had completed secondary school. Some had additional qualifications, while only a small number held bachelor’s or master’s degrees. When looking at parental education, many respondents said their fathers and mothers had bachelor’s degrees, although secondary education was also common.

On average, respondents noted a social status score of around 7.9 and a financial status score of about 7.2.

The average health literacy score across all participants was 85.9, indicating a good level of health literacy. Students in Health Sciences scored the highest (88.2), while those in Engineering had the lowest scores (83.3). The Humanities and Social Sciences students had scores around 86.1.

Female students, urban residents, and those in health-related fields had significantly higher health literacy scores. Older students and those with parents holding advanced degrees also tended to score higher.

Health Literacy and Self-Assessment

About 74% of the respondents actively searched for health information, which correlated with higher health literacy scores. Students who had been trained in basic life support also had higher scores.

Many respondents found medications and medical services easy to afford. Students who felt they could afford care reported better health literacy. Additionally, those with a strong support network (six or more trusted individuals) and good self-reported health also boasted higher health literacy levels. Those with no long-term health issues showed better literacy as well.

In the past two years, students averaged less than one visit to emergency services and made a handful of doctor visits. A majority reported never having smoked or consumed alcohol. However, many students were not physically active enough.

Eating habits were linked to health literacy; those who ate fruits and vegetables regularly showed better health literacy scores. Notably, non-smokers had the highest scores, while there was no significant difference related to physical activity or alcohol consumption.

Influences on Health Literacy

Analyzing how age, gender, and field of study interact revealed some interesting patterns. For example, older male students in Engineering tended to have lower health literacy. Students from certain regions, like the West, had notably poorer health literacy scores compared to others.

Conversely, non-smokers from other regions exhibited higher literacy scores. Those who perceived their socioeconomic status as low or lacked physical activity had lower health literacy scores, highlighting the importance of both economic and lifestyle factors.

Overall, health literacy was higher among students in Humanities and Social Sciences, and Health Sciences compared to Engineering. Students who found it easy to afford medical services also scored better. Likewise, those with a supportive social circle had significantly higher health literacy scores.

In summary, health literacy among students is influenced by various factors including education, financial status, and personal health behaviors. It’s clear that a supportive environment and proactive health management can enhance health literacy.