THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH LITERACY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH HYPERTENSION AT BONTOMARANNU COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, SOUTH SULAWESI

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a chronic condition commonly experienced by older adults and can affect their quality of life. Globally, the prevalence of hypertension is estimated to affect approximately 1.28 billion adults worldwide. In Indonesia, according to data from the 2018 Riskesdas survey, the prevalence of hypertension reached 34.1% among the population aged 18 years and older. The high prevalence of hypertension indicates that this condition is a serious health issue, particularly among the elderly. The elderly’s ability to understand health information (health literacy) plays a crucial role in disease management, treatment adherence, and the prevention of complications. Low health literacy can lead to poor blood pressure control and a decline in the quality of life for the elderly. Objective: To determine the relationship between health literacy and quality of life among the elderly with hypertension. Methods: This study employed a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 85 older adults with hypertension selected using total sampling. Data collection was conducted using a health literacy questionnaire that had been validated for validity and reliability, as well as the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire to measure quality of life. Data analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The results showed that the majority of respondents had a health literacy level in the problematic category. Bivariate analysis indicated a significant association between health literacy and quality of life in older adults with hypertension (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a significant association between health literacy and quality of life in older adults with hypertension. The higher the level of health literacy, the better the quality of life for older adults.