Health Literacy and Health Behaviors of Persons in Mueang District, Buriram Province

Abstract

The objective of this survey research was to study health literacy, healthy behaviors and factors related to public health behaviors. The samples were 430 people from Mueang district, Buriram province. Instruments were assessment form for health literacy and health behaviors by the Division of Health Education, Department of Health Services Support, Ministry of Public Health. Data were analyzed using percentages, means, standard deviations. Relationships between factors were tested using Pearson’s chi-square tests.

The results showed that the samples’ overall health knowledge was at a good level with an average of 60.62 (SD=11.85). Areas found to health knowledge at a good level included applications of information and health services, understanding of health information, assessment of health information and services, and skills for accessing information and health services with average scores of 15.35 (SD=2.87), 15.34 (SD=3.52), 15.01 (SD=3.56), and 14.86 (SD=3.72), respectively. Overall health behavior was at a good level with an average of 77.04 (SD=12.10). Health behaviors in each aspect were at a good level, including the prevention of COVID-19 infection and smoking with average values of 33.62 (SD=5.96) and 7.20 (SD=3.07), respectively. Aspects that were at a fair level were food consumption, stress management, exercises, drinking alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages with average values of 19.98 (SD=4.75, 6.98 (SD=2.67), 5.83 (SD=2.36) and 3.42 (SD=1.73), respectively. Factors significantly related to health behaviors (at p=0.05) were age, overall health knowledge, applications of information and health services, assessment of information and services in health and gender with correlations of 34.69, 33.00, 21.75, 17.37 and 14.06, respectively. The results can be used to plan activities to develop health literacy and health behaviors for population in Mueang district, Buriram province in the future.