the association between health literacy and self-medication behaviors among women referred to comprehensive health care centers in sirjan, iran, in 2017

Background: self-medication is a challenging issue in health care systems and it seems that health literacy is a determining factor in safe self-medication behaviors. limited studies are available in this field. therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between health literacy and self-medicating behaviors among women referred to comprehensive health care centers materials and methods: in this descriptive study, 540 women, who were referred to comprehensive health care centers in 2017, were selected randomly and their health literacy and self-medicating behaviors were assessed through self-reporting method. the data collection tools were the standard health literacy for iranian adults (helia), and the self-medication behaviors questionnaires. data were analyzed using chi-square, mann- whitney u, and kruskal-wallis h tests. results: the results showed that the majority of women (94.6%) had inadequate health literacy. more than 89% of them approved self-medication and more than 98% of them performed self-medication. older women and those who had a higher education level had lower mean health literacy scores (p = 0.021 and p = 0.001, respectively). there was no significant relationship between self-medication and demographic characteristics. furthermore, there was no significant relationship between health literacy and confirmation and performance of self-medication. conclusions: the women had low health literacy levels and high incorrect selfmedication behaviors. self-medication behaviors are performed independent of health literacy. it seems a reform in women's health programs and the empowerment of women in the target population is necessary in order to promote health literacy skills and appropriate self-medication behaviors.