Abstract:OBJECTIVE To investigate and compare the awareness rate of six health issues of health literacy among urban and rural residents in Anhui Province and to provide the evidence for the future plan of health education and health promotion interventions among the residents. METHODS Multi-stage sampling was used to recruit the study objects, and questionnaire survey was used to collect information. 3213 residents aged 15-69 years old in Anhui Province were investigated. Basic information, scientific attitude towards health, infectious diseases prevention, chronic diseases prevention, safety and first aid, basic medical care and health information were included in the investigation. RESULTS There were differences of the awareness rate among the scientific attitude towards health, infectious diseases prevention, chronic diseases prevention, safety and first aid, basic medical care and health information literacy between the urban and rural residents. All of the rates among rural residents showed lower than urban residents. CONCLUSIONS Health education and health promotion among rural residents in Anhui Province should be enhanced and paid more attention. The suitable channels targeted on rural and urban areas should be explored. Health promotion and health intervention should be strengthened on six health issues in which residents had lower awareness rate of health literacy among rural and urban residents in Anhui Province can be raised eventually.