Health Literacy among Women with Different Educational States in Baghdad

Health literacy is an important method used by the authorities to strengthen the health system. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge of some basic health principles among women of different educational states. This is a crosssectional study, performed from December 2014 until January 2016, Baghdad. All candidates were: females > 18 years, neither medical staff nor students. They were divided into two groups: educated and uneducated. The sample included 213 women, there were 112 educated and 101 uneducated women. Regarding educated group, accurate answers regarding route of transmission of typhoid fever was 73.2% in educated subjects vs. 49.5% in uneducated subjects. Main source of information for both groups was personal experience, but internet was used more by educated 59 (52.7%) whereas television by the uneducated 48 (47.5%). In conclusion, educated women had better health literacy than uneducated. Pharmacists played an impotent role in health literacy in the uneducated. Activities of the Ministry of Health were influent on the educated women.