HEALTH LITERACY ON CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 PREVENTION BEHAVIORS OF VILLAGE HEALTH VOLUNTEERS IN REGION 6 HEALTH PROVIDER

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to study the relationship between health literacy and prevention behaviors of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of village health volunteers (VHVs) in the Region 6 Health Provider. The study was conducted in a sample of 422 village health volunteers (VHVs). The  instrument  used  to  collect  data was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and correlation was analyzed and the chi-square test.

            The results of study revealed that VHVs had overall health literacy was at a very good level and health literacy components in terms of understanding, communication skills and decision skills were at a high level. While access skill, self-management skills and the offer alternatives to others ability were moderate. The VHV's self-protection behavior from the COVID-19 was at a fair level.
In VHV's self-protection behaviors from the COVID-19 were related to age, education level, duration of work as a VHV, obtaining personal health assessments before working, obtaining the necessary self protect equipment, receiving information, receiving compliments, the educating role and disease surveillance role were statistically significant (p<0.05). Health literacy were statistically significant correlations with the self-protection behavior from the COVID-19 (p<0.05). Therefore, health literacy should be promoted to the VHVs in order for appropriate preventive behaviors against the COVID-19 and to help promote their potential in surveillance and control of the COVID-19 in the community.