Empowering Women through a Path Analysis: Identification of ffective Factors based on Social Support and Community Participation on e-Health Literacy in Women’s Virtual Health Society

Background and Objectives: The virtual community plays a crucial role in increasing health literacy. A successful and empowered woman demands an adequate level of health literacy. Knowing the determinants affecting e-health literacy in the virtual community was hoped to optimize efforts to increase e-health literacy. This research is aimed to assess the determinants that affect e-health literacy in virtual communities for empowering women. Materials and Methods: A study with a cross-sectional approach was used to assess the determinants of e-health literacy. A total of 117 samples were taken using the total sampling technique. Data was collected using demographic variables checklist, social support, community participation, e-health literacy, and information process paradigms questionnaire. Data was analyzed for path analysis using Stata 13 software. Results: The path analysis showed that social support and community participation in women had a significant positive direct effect (p<0.05) on health literacy. The community participation, information processing paradigm, ethnicity, number of social media owned, age, education, distance from home to healthcare facilities, and number of healthcare places significantly indirectly affect health literacy (p <0.05). Conclusion: To empower woman’s health literacy in online communities, we should pay attention to increase social support, community participation, processing information paradigm, ethnicity, number of social media owned, age, education, distance from home to healthcare facilities, and number of healthcare places. © 2024, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.