Health Literacy of a Migrant community in Portugal on environmental health risks

Abstract

Background: Social, cultural and environmental factors are crucial for the health of migrants. Health Literacy is a fundamental contribution, giving them greater capacity and making it possible to reduce health inequalities. The aim of this study was to characterize the perception and behavior of a migrant community residing in Portugal, in view of the health risks resulting from the environmental conditions in which they live, and to identify their level of Health Literacy. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory study. Data collection was obtained through the application of the ‘‘Health Literacy Questionnaire’’ (Osborne, 2013), complemented with socio- demographic and environmental indicators referring to the physical space and social context of residence. The ques- tionnaires were applied to a sample of the population, coming from Portuguese-speaking African countries, with 101 parti- cipants. Data analysis involved measures of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Of the data obtained, 77.2% reported having problems with humidity in their homes, with poor behavior in terms of heat (64.4%) and cold (90.1%). 76% reported insect and rodent infestations inside their homes. The presence of stagnant water (43.6%), organic waste (29.8%) and poor electrical networks (26.9%) were the main environmental problems identified. About Health Literacy, ‘‘Feeling understood and supported by health professionals’ and ‘‘Finding good health information’’, registered lower levels, with the remaining ones being generally below the average of the scale. internal consistency ranged between 0.71 and 0.92. Conclusions: Data analysis showed the precariousness of housing and the inadequacy of support infrastructure, with inherent environ- mental risks to health. The existence of low levels of Health Literacy was found in most of the domains considered. The results supported and justified the elaboration of a community intervention project with the involvement of local partners. Key messages: - Knowing the environmental determinants is essential for disease prevention and health promotion. - Health Literacy is an indispensable vehicle for reducing inequalities in migrant populations.