Health literacy of Iraqi immigrant adults: pilot study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of a 3- hour educational program on the health literacy of Iraqi immigrants in the U.S.

Methods: The pilot study was implemented using a Pretest-Posttest design. Iraqi immigrants (n = 30) who were 18 years or older, used English as a second language and lived in the U.S. for at least five months, participated in the study. Health literacy (functional, communicative and critical) was measured before and after an educational program by using the “Test of All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS)”.

Results: Based on the results of this pilot study, the mean of AAHLS total score for the pretest was 13.3, and the mean of total score for the posttest was 16.03. So, there is significant improvement in health literacy after the program.

Conclusions: Although the results indicated a significant improvement of PostTotal health literacy scores (M = 16.3, SD = 3.04) over PreTotal health literacy score (M = 13.13, SD = 3.13), t (29) = 4.917, p < .001, the functional literacy subscale did not show similar improvement.