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Zamani Bakhtiarvand, Sara, Rahaei, Zohreh, Sadeghian, Hossein Ali, Zareiyan, Armin, Fatehi, Farhad. (1404). Determinants of Health Literacy among Iranian Children Aged 9–12: A Qualitative Study. , 11(1), 9-29. doi: 10.22038/jhl.2025.87543.1756
Sara Zamani Bakhtiarvand; Zohreh Rahaei; Hossein Ali Sadeghian; Armin Zareiyan; Farhad Fatehi. "Determinants of Health Literacy among Iranian Children Aged 9–12: A Qualitative Study". , 11, 1, 1404, 9-29. doi: 10.22038/jhl.2025.87543.1756
Zamani Bakhtiarvand, Sara, Rahaei, Zohreh, Sadeghian, Hossein Ali, Zareiyan, Armin, Fatehi, Farhad. (1404). 'Determinants of Health Literacy among Iranian Children Aged 9–12: A Qualitative Study', , 11(1), pp. 9-29. doi: 10.22038/jhl.2025.87543.1756
Zamani Bakhtiarvand, Sara, Rahaei, Zohreh, Sadeghian, Hossein Ali, Zareiyan, Armin, Fatehi, Farhad. Determinants of Health Literacy among Iranian Children Aged 9–12: A Qualitative Study. , 1404; 11(1): 9-29. doi: 10.22038/jhl.2025.87543.1756

Determinants of Health Literacy among Iranian Children Aged 9–12: A Qualitative Study

Journal of Health Literacy
مقاله 1، دوره 11، شماره 1 - شماره پیاپی 40، فروردین 2026، صفحه 9-29    اصل مقاله (2.52 M)
نوع مقاله: Original Article
شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22038/jhl.2025.87543.1756
نویسندگان
Sara Zamani Bakhtiarvand1؛ Zohreh Rahaei1؛ Hossein Ali Sadeghian* 1؛ Armin Zareiyan2؛ Farhad Fatehi3
1School of Public Health, Department of Health Education & Health promotion, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
2Research Center for Cancer Screening and Epidemiology, Public Health Department, Nursing Faculty, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3Center for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
چکیده
Background and Objective: Health literacy critically shapes health outcomes across the lifespan. However, determinants influencing its development during childhood remain inadequately understood, particularly within culturally diverse populations. Iranian children face distinctive socio-cultural challenges that may impact health literacy formation, though empirical research on contributing factors is limited.To investigate multifactorial determinants influencing health literacy development among Iranian children aged 9–12 years, drawing on perspectives of children, mothers, and educators.

Materials and Methods: This exploratory qualitative study employed conventional content analysis following Graneheim and Lundman's methodology. Conducted in Isfahan Province, Iran (February 2023–May 2024), purposive sampling using maximum variation recruited 21 participants: children aged 9–12 years (n=14), mothers (n=3), and elementary school educators (n=4). Semi-structured interviews averaged 34 minutes, yielding 760 minutes of recorded material. Data analysis used MAXQDA 2022 software with independent verification.

Results: Content analysis of 1,077 initial codes yielded four overarching categories encompassing 15 subcategories: 1) Child-level determinants: health knowledge and understanding, mental and emotional well-being, health skills and self-management; 2) Family and home environment determinants: family health literacy and awareness, maternal roles and practices, family structure and dynamics; 3) Educational and institutional determinants: school environment and policies, curriculum and learning content, teaching methodologies, educator competence; 4) Socio-cultural and systemic determinants: economic status, cultural and religious context, information environment, policy and governance, environmental quality.

Conclusion: This study identified four interconnected categories of determinants influencing health literacy development among Iranian children aged 9-12 years. Findings revealed children's capacity for health reasoning and the central role of family environments, particularly maternal influences. Educational approaches emphasizing interactive learning methods and educator competence emerged as important factors. Economic constraints, cultural values, and environmental conditions represented significant systemic determinants, providing evidence for developing culturally responsive, multi-level interventions.
کلیدواژه‌ها
Child Development؛ Health Education؛ Health Literacy؛ Qualitative Research؛ Socioeconomic Factors
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