BMJ Open · 8 authors, 4 centres
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This scoping review synthesized 82 studies from the Eastern Mediterranean region, finding that adolescents and young adults generally have low-to-moderate health literacy levels. The review identified demographic, socioeconomic, and educational factors as key predictors of health literacy.
This scoping review analyzed 82 studies, predominantly cross-sectional designs from Iran and Turkey, investigating health literacy among adolescents and young adults aged 10–25 in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The central finding is that half of the studies reported low or moderate health literacy levels. Factors predicting health literacy included demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, internet usage, and participation in school-based health education. The review identified a gap in research on vulnerable populations like refugees and individuals with disabilities. Nine studies were intervention-based, aiming to improve health literacy through university or school programs. The authors recommend leveraging school-based education and social media platforms to promote health literacy, emphasizing the need for early and inclusive interventions due to the region's political instability.
