Health literacy levels among late adolescent college students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Health literacy is an individual's ability to obtain, understand, evaluate, and use health information for decision-making. During late adolescence, health literacy is important because this phase is a transition period toward independence and is vulnerable to the influence of information on social media. This study aims to analyze the level of health literacy among late adolescent students at Surabaya State University—a cross-sectional study involving 226 students (81 males, 145 females). A questionnaire using the HSL-EU-16 was employed to assess comprehensive health literacy levels. Demographic data and health literacy scores were collected and analyzed descriptively and comparatively to assess differences based on gender. The average total health literacy score indicated an adequate category for both groups (males = 13.86; females = 14.38). The distribution of health literacy categories was 78.3% adequate, 18.1% problematic, and 3.5% inadequate. The difference in scores between men and women was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), although women had a slightly higher average score. Targeted health literacy education programs, including improving the ability to evaluate digital information, are needed to reduce the proportion of students with poor or inadequate literacy and to support better health decision-making among the campus population.