Health equity through health literacy: validating HLS₁₉-Q12 in general and migrant-origin populations of Finland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Health Literacy (HL) has become popular in research for its potential in reducing health inequalities. HL is shaped by personal and situational factors, both having particular implications for migrant populations. This study adapted and validated the HLS19-Q12 in migrant and general populations of Finland using two large-scale population studies. We investigated methodological choices to ensure quality of HL measurement and monitoring across population groups. Finally, we examined the association between HL and socioeconomic, health- and migration-related factors in the general and migrant populations of Finland.

Methods

We implemented the Nominal Categories Model (NCM) to empirically evaluate modeling assumptions, studied response functioning and measurement equi

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Velazquez R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12918337 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature