Health Literacy and Factors Related to Leprosy Prevention and Surveillance Behaviors of Village Health Volunteers in the Health Region 11
Keywords:
Health Literacy, Prevention Behaviors, Leprosy, Village Health VolunteersAbstract
This analytic cross-sectional research aimed to examine the health literacy level, leprosy prevention and surveillance behaviors, as well as factors influencing these behaviors among village health volunteers (VHVs) in health region 11 epidemiological indications area. The sample was 176 VHVs. Simple random sampling was applied. The research tool was a questionnaire developed by the researcher. Experts verified the validity of the questionnaire, obtaining an IOC ranged between 0.67 to 1.00. The reliability of the questionnaire regarding leprosy knowledge and health literacy was tested using KR-20, obtaining values of 0.75, and 0.96, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the questionnaire regarding leprosy prevention and surveillance behaviors was equal to 0.79. Data analysis was performed, using statistics, included percentages, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, and multivariate logistic regression.
The results showed that the health literacy and leprosy knowledge of VHVs were at a good level. The majority of them (65.91%) were at a good level, whereas the majority of VHV leprosy prevention and surveillance behaviors (53.41%) were at a low level. Knowledge of leprosy (aOR= 1.89, 95%CI= 1.03-3.48), access to health information and services (aOR= 2.64, 95%CI= 1.40 - 4.97), interactive questions to improve cognition (aOR= 3.64, 95%CI= 1.69 - 7.83), and health decision-making (aOR= 3.04, 95%CI= 1.41 - 6.55) were the factors related to leprosy prevention and surveillance behaviors with statistical significance (p-value = 0.05).
Therefore, a training to restore knowledge of leprosy among VHVs, emphasizing on knowledge of screening and early diagnosis of leprosy should be done. So they will be able to screen, advise, and refer patients for proper diagnosis when suspected leprosy is found in the community. In addition, the process of improving leprosy health knowledge among village health volunteers in the area of epidemiological indications of leprosy should thus be promoted through the organization in order to help volunteers to develop self-protective behaviors and improve leprosy surveillance in the community.
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