International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780210102020020921752175ENDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, ArakMedical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, TehranSociology Department, School of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, TehranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, TehranSchool of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, ArakSchool of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, ArakNational Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast (NIHR CLAHRC NWC), Institute of Psychology, Health, and Society, Department of Health Services Research, University of LiverpoolZanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran, 7Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, TehranMedical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran20200205<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Health literacy is a major factor for health promotion and well‑being. In spite of<br />several researches on health literacy, information on the subject of the status of health literacy in<br />Asian countries such as Iran is inadequate. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the inequality of<br />health literacy in an Iranian population and its influencing factors. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">In this cross‑sectional<br />study, 736 families were selected by cluster random sampling. A validated questionnaire was used to<br />measure the health literacy of participants. Socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated by asset‑based<br />approach, and principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to estimate the families’ SES.<br />Concentration index and curve were used to measure SES inequality in health literacy, and after that<br />decomposed into its determinants. The data were analyzed by Stata software. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">The mean<br />age of the participants was 34.81 years (standard deviation = 5.98 years). The value of concentration<br />index for health literacy equals 0.2292 (95% confidence interval = 0.168–0.283), and this value<br />indicates that there is inequality in distribution of health literacy in Iran and the inequality disfavors<br />the poor. </span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">The results of this study revealed that there is inequality in distribution of<br />health literacy in Iran, and people of higher economic status in Iran enjoy from better health literacy<br />levels.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Healthcare disparities, health literacy, health status disparities, socioeconomic factors</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2175http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2175/717717971