Health Literacy for Heatstroke among Antique Trishaw Occupation in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This mixed-method, cross-sectional descriptive and qualitative study aimed to assess the symptoms of illness, a level of risk and health literacy, factors and heatstroke prevention measures of antique trishaw occupation in Chiang Mai Province. Population consisted of 39 antique trishaw occupation, aged 34-83 years. Instrument were a questionnaire with a reliability value of 0.91 and semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 15 key informants. Data were analyzed using percentages, means, standard deviations, and content analyses. Results from the cross-sectional descriptive research showed that most of the antique trishaw occupation were 60-83 years old (66.67%). They never received treatment in a hospital for heatstroke (94.87 %). Overall, the symptoms of illness, risk level were low at a mean of 3.02, and the health literacy was at a moderate level, with a mean of 6.08. All 10 factors had impacts on the occurrence of heatstroke at a lowest risk level. Qualitative study showed factors: 1) personal factors, including age and chronic disease and accumulated stress, 2) occupational characteristics including the weight of foreign passengers, distance and uphill road surface, and the number of overlapping tour queues, and 3) environmental factors of PM 2.5 dust. Heatstroke prevention measures included: individual 2 level measures, focusing on self-protection and social measures including establishing heat-safe parking areas and promoting the tourism economy and health aspects in the dimensions of the 4 factors to create good life immunity.