Associação entre caracterização sócio - demográfica e nível de letramento em saúde de estudantes do curso de enfermagem

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Health literacy is a fundamental skill in nursing education, as it directly influences students’ ability to understand and apply essential information in care practices. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and health literacy levels among nursing students. METHODOLOGY: This was a quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted with 228 students who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Descriptive analyses included frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion, and HLQ scores calculated as the mean of items, ranging from 0 to 5. RESULTS: Findings showed moderate levels of health literacy, with scores between 1.17% and 2.31%, with slight variations across academic periods. Students with lighter work hours performed better, and those who reported frequent reading demonstrated greater ability to interpret and critically use health information. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that reading habits, academic experience, and balance between study and work directly influence the development of health literacy, supporting literature that highlights the role of the educational environment and continuous cognitive practices in strengthening these competencies. CONCLUSION: Health literacy among students is still in a phase of consolidation, highlighting the need for integrated pedagogical strategies, encouragement of reading, and qualified practical experiences to enhance essential competencies for safe and critical professional practice.