Sedigheh Abedini - Social factors in health promotion research center, Hormozgan health research center, Hormozgan University of medical sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Shahla Nooradin - Hormozgan University of medical sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Shokrollah Mohseni - Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Havva Daryafti - Biostatistics and epidemiology department, Health faculty, Hormozgan University of medical sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Fatemeh karimi - Hormozgan University of medical sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Roghayeh Ezati-rad - Student Research Committee, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran

Background and Objective: Health-promoting behaviors are fundamental and important activities for the development and maintenance of health in individuals. However, people with inadequate health literacy are in a worse health position. Today, health literacy is considered a main factor involved in healthcare outcomes and costs. The present research aimed to determine the level of health literacy among the ۱۸–۶۴-year-old residents of Hormozgan Province in association with health promotion behaviors.   Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study on ۸۴۰ subjects aged from ۱۸ to ۶۴ years, who referred to the urban and rural health centers in Hormozgan, Iran. They were selected through a multi-stratified sampling method in ۲۰۱۷. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire comprised of a demographic section, the test of functional health literacy in adults (TOFHLA), and Walkers’ health promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP-II). The data were analyzed by SPSS version ۲۳ based on the descriptive and analytical statistics tests.   Results: The mean and standard deviation of the subjects’ age was ۳۰.۶±۸.۲ years. Most of the participants (۵۸۶, ۷۲.۲%) had an adequate level of health literacy and ۲۲۶ subjects (۲۷.۸%) had inadequate health literacy. The mean and standard deviation of the overall health promotion behavior was found to be ۱۴۲.۹۵±۲۰.۱۱, interpreted as an acceptable level. The highest average value was observed in the subclass of self-actualization (۲۷.۷±۴.۹) and the lowest mean related to the subclass of physical activity (۱۷.۴±۵.۴). Internet (۴۳.۱%) and appealing to the healthcare team (۳۶.۹%) were ۴۳.۱% and ۳۶.۹%, respectively.   Conclusion: Our findings showed that educational plans are essential based on different domains of health promotion behaviors with a focus on physical activity. It is also necessary to plan for educating different dimensions of health literacy in the virtual world and social health networks.

Health Literacy, Health Behavior, health promotion, Iran