Estimating the determinants of health literacy for policy prioritisation: a local level case study in Newham, London

This study investigates the determinants of health literacy in Newham, London, using a statistical modelling approach. Health literacy is defined using literacy, numeracy, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy from the ONS Skills for Life (SfL) survey 2011. The research combines survey, the Newham Residents Survey (NRS), and the UK 2021 Census data. Multilevel regression with post-stratification (MRP) and average treatment effects (ATE) are used to quantify the strength of association of various factors on health literacy at the local level.The study identifies several significant determinants of health literacy, including age, ethnicity, qualification level, English as a first language, job status, gross income, and home ownership. Specifically, individuals aged 45 years and over are estimated to have lower ICT health literacy. White ethnicity is associated with higher numeracy scores. Additionally, health literacy worsens as area deprivation increases. Qualification level is estimated to be the strongest associated factor across all health literacy outcomes. The ultimate aim of this study is to inform targeted health literacy interventions at the local level by quantifying the relative importance of key determinants with uncertainty, thereby aiding in the prioritisation of resources.