Demography and social economy, 2019, 1(35):41-52
doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/dse2019.01.041
UDC 314: 316.(477)
JEL CLASSIFICATION: J11, J28

N.О. Ryngach
Dr. Sc. (Degree in Public Administration), Leading research fellow
Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
01032, Ukraine, Kyiv, вlvd Taras Shevchenko, 60
E-mail: n_ryngach@ukr.net; n_ryngach@idss.org.ua

AWARENESS OF POPULATION ABOUT RISK FACTORS AS AN ASPECT OF HEALTH LITERACY IN UKRAINE
Section: DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES
Language: Ukrainian
Abstract: The article is devoted to the analysis of awareness about risk factors as an important aspect of health literacy in Ukraine. The aim is to identify and characterize the awareness of residents in working age of the Dnipropetrovsk region about key risk factors and activity to minimize them. The method of in-depth interviews (N20) and the method of personalized formal interviews (N2000) have been used. The survey among the representative sample of the population of working age was carried out according to a specially developed methodology of qualitative and quantitative research stages and data collection tools. The research was conducted in 2017 on request of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration with the financial support of the World Bank. The author analyzes the awareness of the working-age population about the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases as a prerequisite for effective prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It is shown that with a fairly good awareness in general, some respondents have incomplete or fragmentary knowledge of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Only 20 % are aware of all five key risk factors (high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and overweight, harmful use of alcohol), 31.2 % – of four risk factors ((with the elimination of excessive use of alcohol). Insufficient coverage of counseling on risk factor correction has been proven: only one fourth of respondents (25.3 %) received specific recommendations on correction for CVD risk factors from family/district doctors or nurses during recent 12 months. Qualitative research has revealed, and quantitatively confirmed the gap between knowledge and actions of people. It is proved that the main emphasis in preventive work should be done to eliminate it by raising awareness of their own capacity to influence health and motivate healthy choices and actions to minimize risk factors. The necessity of the inter-sectoral approach for increasing sanitary literacy has been substantiated.
Key words: health literacy, population’s awareness, people of working age, key risk factors, gap between knowledge and actions, sociological research.
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