An Evaluation of Health Literacy in Prevention, Control Disease and Health Hazard of the Thai People, in the 9 Regional Health in 2020

Abstract

An Evaluation of Health Literacy in Prevention, Control Disease and Health Hazard of the Thai People, in the 9th Regional Health in 2020. This descriptive and analytical study using mixed methods. In quantitative method, questionnaires were used to collect data from 400 residents selected through multi-stage sampling. Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation, Chi-Square and Pearson Coefficient were used to analyze the data. In qualitative method, data collected through Focus Group Discussion among key informants. Content analysis was used to analyze obtained information. The study results: Health Literacy in Disease Prevention and Control, and Health Hazard: 51.7% of the residents had health literacy at a moderate level. Perception of Information: 60.3% of the residents perceived all 5 topics of diseases and health hazards related information at high. The knowledge of diseases and health hazards of overall 5 topics were at high 56.0%. Preventive behavior against diseases and health hazards: Most of the residents 47.5%. There is association between knowledge of diseases and health hazards, behavior against diseases and health hazards; and health literacy at moderate significant level (p-value = 0550, 0.525). Perception of information and health literacy at low significant level (p-value = 0.395). According to qualitative method, health literacy of the residents could be divided into 3 groups which were low, moderate low and moderate levels supporting results from quantitative method. The residents of different groups access to information through different methods. The results of this study could be used as a reference to systematically formulate a plan related to risk communication and improve health behavior of targeted populations. They could be also used to formulate a plan to develop public communication for effectively enhancing information receiving, knowledge and health behaviors of targeted populations in the future.