Аңдатпа
Health literacy is a critical determinant of public health outcomes, shaping individuals' abilities to access, understand, and apply health information effectively. Despite Kazakhstan's advancements in healthcare, significant disparities persist between urban and rural populations, with rural areas exhibiting disproportionately low levels of health literacy. This disparity exacerbates existing healthcare inequalities, resulting in delayed diagnoses, limited use of preventive care, and poor health outcomes. The urgency to address these gaps is underscored by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the need for informed patient participation in healthcare. The study reviews recent literature published from 2013 to 2023 (10 years), national statistics, and case studies from both Kazakhstan and similar global contexts. Research was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of science and Google Scholar. Additionally, regional academic journals and reports from the World Health Organization were utilized. This article examines the significant barriers and opportunities associated with improving health literacy in rural areas of Kazakhstan. It highlights the increasing prevalence of low health literacy, its consequences on public health, and strategies to address these issues. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions in bridging rural health literacy gaps. In rural areas of Kazakhstan access to healthcare and public health education remains limited. Low health literacy in these areas exacerbates disparities in health outcomes, leading to higher rates of preventable diseases, limited adoption of preventive care, and increased economic strain on the healthcare system. Major barriers include geographic isolation, inadequate educational resources, and cultural beliefs that hinder the dissemination and understanding of health information. Conversely, the adoption of mobile health tools, community health worker programs, and culturally tailored health campaigns present viable opportunities. Evidence suggests that targeted interventions—such as school-based health education, telemedicine, and policy-driven health literacy campaigns - can improve outcomes by addressing the unique socio-economic and cultural barriers in rural areas of Kazakhstan. Keywords: health literacy, rural population, health knowledge, attitudes, practice, healthcare disparities, public health, health promotion.