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Health and e-Health literacy among diabetic patients in low-income countries: an evaluation study in Guinea and Burkina Faso
ABSTRACT
Background:
Diabetes is a significant health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need to assess the health literacy and eHealth skills of hospitalised diabetic patients. This study evaluated the health literacy and eHealth literacy of diabetic patients in Donka Hospital (Guinea) and Sanou Sourou Hospital (Burkina Faso), providing insights for targeted interventions and mHealth solutions to improve self-management and treatment outcomes.
Objective:
To evaluate and understand the levels of health literacy and eHealth literacy among patients at Sanou Sourou Hospital in Burkina Faso and Donka Hospital in Guinea.
Methods:
The study included 45 participants from Donka Hospital and 47 from Sanou Sourou Hospital. The data collection was conducted in May 2022, and the study focused on examining variables such as gender, age, education, income, and technology access. Health literacy and eHealth literacy were measured using the Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS) and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) scales, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 28.
Results:
Results indicated that 64.4% of participants in Donka Hospital and 57.4% in Sanou Sourou Hospital were female. The majority of participants (48.9% in both hospitals) were aged between 25 and 50. Illiteracy rates were high, with 62% in Donka Hospital and 59% in Sanou Sourou Hospital. Smartphone ownership was prevalent, with 62.2% in Donka Hospital and 63.8% in Sanou Sourou Hospital. Participants reported occasional use of technology for basic purposes and frequent internet usage for accessing health information. However, a significant proportion of participants demonstrated low health literacy (73.3% in Donka Hospital, 78.5% in Sanou Sourou Hospital) and inadequate eHealth literacy (57% in Donka Hospital, 61.7% in Sanou Sourou Hospital). Education positively correlated with health literacy, while age displayed a moderate negative correlation. Weak correlations were observed between gender, income, and health literacy, but these were not statistically significant. No significant correlation was found between the Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS) and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) scores in either hospital.
Conclusions:
This study highlights the importance of targeted educational interventions and mHealth solutions to enhance health and eHealth literacy among hospitalized diabetic patients. Addressing health literacy and eHealth literacy is crucial for improving diabetes management and treatment outcomes in Guinea and Burkina Faso. Targeted interventions and mHealth solutions can empower patients, enabling their active involvement in healthcare decisions.
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