Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey design, 217 female caregivers were recruited from 5 hospitals via convenience sampling. Health literacy was measured by 6 items of Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Understanding health information was measured by 8 items of Mandarine health literacy scale (Lee S-YD, Tsai T-I, Tsai Y-W, 2013) from National Health Research Institutes. Food choice was measured by 12 items based on USDA Diet and health knowledge survey.
Results: Mean age of female caregivers were 44.52 years old (SD=12.25) and 46% graduated college and above, and most of them (68%) were wife. Level of health literacy was 3.62(SD=2.09) ranged from 0 to 6 indicating inadequate level. Correction rates for NVS items to measure health literacy was wide ranged from 26% to 80%. Level of understanding health information was about 3 point out of 5 indicating greater need for further explanation. They believed to have strong relationships between illness and food nutrients such as calories, trans-fat, cholesterol, and sodium. However, only 31% of women read food label. Women’s better health literacy and greater perceived benefit of healthy diet pattern were associated with better food choice.
Conclusion: Female caregivers reported inadequate health literacy but they believed illness and food nutrients were highly related. Health literacy and healthy food choice were related. Health education and counseling for female caregivers may help promoting women and their family health.