Health literacy status among community in the protected area: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Adequate health literacy is necessary for individuals as it enables them to readily acquire information, process it, and apply it to health-related decisions. Various factors including geographical area will determine the disparity in health literacy status. Communities living in protected areas have limited health literacy and health status owing to a lack of access to infrastructure and medical facilities. Existing studies have discussed health literacy among various populations disproportionately affected by certain diseases. However, research remains underdeveloped, and the causal factors are largely untested. This research aims to better understand how population living conditions especially those who are living in protected areas are affected and exposed to limited health literacy.

METHOD: This study will comprehensively review full-text papers published between 2013 and 2023. We will search 3 databases, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, using the keyword search strategy to find articles related to the issue. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses will be used to guide the selection of relevant studies. The results will then be assessed using the standard Cochrane Quality assessment method. The outcome is addressed in light of a narrative synthesis that utilizes a theme category and focuses on each component's main conclusions.

RESULT: This protocol describes the planned scope and methodology for the systematic review and meta-analysis that will provide current evidence on; The status of health literacy among the community in protected areas and; The effect of Protected Areas on health literacy according to their types and characteristics.

CONCLUSION: Meta-analysis of low-to-high health literacy status will benefit the development of policy recommendations for protected areas.