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Muhanga, M.I and Malungo, J.R. (2019). Health Literacy and its Associates in the Context of One Health Approach: A Research Agenda Towards an Industrial Economy in Tanzania. Proceedings of Scientific Conference on Transforming Agriculture and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development to Attain Industrial Economy in Tanzania, SUA-Morogoro, Tanzania, April 2019 |
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Transformation of agriculture and natural resources for sustainable development towards industrial
economy in Tanzania, inter alia, relies on the quality of population. Health has always remained a very
essential determinant of quality of a population. Evidently, attaining optimal health calls for collaboration
between humans, animals and environmental health professionals plus understanding consequences of
humans, animals and environment interactions on health. Attaining good health faces numerous
challenges, health literacy (HL) inclusive. Despite, HL being a predictor of health outcomes, health care
costs and utilization, yet, it is not empirically known to which extent most countries, Tanzania inclusive,
have made efforts in terms of research and interventions in this important variable. A cross sectional study
was conducted in Morogoro urban and Mvomero districts in Morogoro, Tanzania to specifically (i) assess
HL, (ii) determine factors associated with HL, (iii) identify research efforts and interventions on HL in
Tanzania. . Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 1440 respondents obtained using
multistage sampling procedure. HL was measured using One Health Literacy Assessment tool.
Quantitative data were analysed using IBM-SPSS (v20) and Gretl software. The results revealed that
36.3% of the respondents had inadequate HL, 30.8% with Marginal HL and Adequate HL standing at
32.9%. Pearson coefficient correlation revealed HL correlating to group of attitudes (r = 0.135, p = 0.01),
levels of engagement in health-related discussion (r = 0.609, p < 0.05), health behaviour categories (r = -
0.648, p = 0.05) and category of information seeking (r = 0.753, p = 0.05). Scanty empirical evidence
exists on having HL researched and documented adequately in Tanzania. Having observed low HL and
scanty research efforts and interventions on HL, efforts should be strengthened to promote HL under One
Health Approach, given its importance towards realization of optimal health for humans, animals and the
environment. |
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