title: Health literacy in a population-based sample of adult men and women in a South Eastern European country.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health literacy (HL) may be an important determinant of health, but this concept is largely under-researched in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans which is currently undergoing major political and socioeconomic changes. We aimed to assess the sociodemographic distribution of HL in this transitional South Eastern European country aspiring to join the European Union.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban Tirana, the capital of Albania, during September 2012-February 2014 including a representative population-based sample of 1154 adult individuals aged ≥18 years (57% women; 89% response). HL was assessed using the full version (47 items) of the 'Health Literacy Survey-European Union Questionnaire'. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to assess the linear associations between HL indexes with demographic and socioeconomic correlates of study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall HL was significantly higher among younger, highly educated and better-off participants. Conversely, no significant differences were noticed regarding sex, employment status or marital status of respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sociodemographic correlates of HL among Albanian adults showed similar trends with those observed in other former communist countries of Europe. Current findings may help policymakers tailor accordingly future interventions and programs to improve health status of Albanian citizens.
authors: Department of International Health, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.
authors: Ervin
authors: E
authors: Toçi
authors: Department of International Health, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Genc
authors: G
authors: Burazeri
authors: University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.
authors: Sokol
authors: S
authors: Myftiu
authors: Department of International Health, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Kristine
authors: K
authors: Sørensen
authors: Department of International Health, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Helmut
authors: H
authors: Brand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000415:Albania; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Albania; disease prevention; health literacy; health promotion; survey