Chronic disease prevention literacy and its influence on behavior and lifestyle: a cross-sectional study in Xinjiang, China

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status and influencing factors of Kyrgyz chronic disease prevention literacy, and to explore the impact of chronic disease prevention literacy on behavior and living habits. METHOD: Using stratified sampling method, Kyrgyz residents aged ≥ 18 years in Artush City, Aheqi County and Ucha County were surveyed by questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 10,468 subjects were investigated, and the literacy rate of chronic disease prevention in Kyrgyz was 11.2%. The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the literacy rate of chronic disease prevention was low among people with low education level, herdsmen, low income, urban and chronic disease (P < 0.05). Residents with chronic disease prevention literacy were more inclined to not smoke, not drink alcohol, drink milk every day, eat soy products every month, eat whole grains every day (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The literacy level of chronic disease prevention of Kyrgyz residents in Kezhou has been improved, but it is still at a low level compared with another subcategories. The behavioral lifestyle is related to the literacy level of chronic disease prevention. Therefore, local health promotion strategies should be developed to improve the literacy level of chronic disease prevention and promote the formation of good behavioral and living habits. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-023-16884-1.