BEIJING - China's health literacy rate edged higher in 2017 to 14.18 percent, a 2.6-percentage-point increase than that of 2016, as China is making steady progress in health literacy promotion, the National Health Commission said.

Health literacy refers to one's ability to gain and comprehend health information and acquire relevant services to make appropriate health decisions, while health literacy rate means the ratio of people possessing such abilities.

The results were based on a nationwide health literacy test, the seventh one conducted in China, which covered 85,000 individuals in 31 provincial regions.

In terms of health knowledge, healthy lifestyles and basic health-related skills, the health literacy rate of Chinese citizens is 25.82 percent, 14.30 percent and 16.38 percent, respectively.

The commission said that it plans to step up efforts in health education in rural areas and among children.