J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2013 Dec;24(4):377-387. 10.12799/jkachn.2013.24.4.377.

Factors related with Health Literacy in Asian Immigrant Women in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Nursing Science, College of Health Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. yangsj@ewha.ac.kr
  • 2Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to identify health literacy levels of Asian immigrant women in Korea and factors related with health literacy in them among other sociodemographic characteristics.
METHODS
Data were drawn from 671 immigrant women who came from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other Asian countries (M age=28.1+/-5.89) using REALM-R, which consisted of 8 medical words and was translated into Korean (score range: 0~8). Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 20.0 program for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and multiple regression.
RESULTS
The average score of health literacy was 5.0+/-2.61. Time since immigration, country of origin, education level, and Korean language proficiency significantly predicted levels of health literacy in Asian immigrant women (adjusted R square=.200, p<.001).
CONCLUSION
When health care professionals provide health care services and health education, they should consider levels of health literacy and factors related with health literacy in Asian immigrant women.

Keyword

Immigrants; Women; Health literacy

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
China
Delivery of Health Care
Education
Emigrants and Immigrants*
Emigration and Immigration
Female
Health Education
Health Literacy*
Humans
Korea*
Philippines
Vietnam

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