The relationship between Health literacy, healthy behavior personal charac teristics with overweight and obesity of public health volunteers (HPVs) who are responsibility of Medical Center (Primary care units), Khon Kaen Hospital

Abstract

Public Health Volunteers (PHVs) are the leaders of the villagers and coordinators to improve the quality of life of the people. Health volunteers need to have health literacy and health behaviors as a good model for the people. This research was descriptive research cross-sectional study and aim to study overweight and obesity. Personal characteristics, health literacy in nutrition, health behavior of Public Health Volunteers who are responsible of the medical service center (Primary health care units).  Khon Kaen Hospital The subjects were 218 Public health volunteers. Data were collected by using questionnaires. Personal characteristics data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum. Inferential statistics were used Pearson Product Moment Correlation.   The results were found as follows:  The most of subjects were obese 69.7 % (152 subjects), income, the highest income was less than 5,000 baht 58,3% (127 subjects) , Financial status, most of them were inadequate and had debt, 69.3% (151 subjects), working for the PHVs, mostly 1-3 years, 64.7% (141 subjects), their knowledge about obesity, were high level, 83%. (181 subjects), their  health literacy most of them were moderate, 56 % (122 subjects), health behaviors most of them were moderate, 66.1 % (144 subjects) ,  Food consumption most of them didn’t drink alcohol 51.8 % (113 subjects), secondary they consumed   high-fat foods less such as fried potatoes, fried chicken, etc. 486% (106 subjects). Exercise behavior, most of them exercised regularly, 82.1% (130 subjects). The relationship between difference variables and overweight and obesity found that: Their financial status had a positive correlation (r=.141, P<.05).  Duration of working as a PHVs were associated with overweight and obesity

                 Recommendations found that most PHVs slept late. (After midnight) 72% and drink sugary drinks, tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages. very much and do not think to quit drinking, 64.3%, resulting in obesity and overweight There should be a change in sleeping habits and stop drinking sugary drinks, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages to the PHVs.