Factors Related to Health Literacy in Hypertension Prevention among Village Health Volunteers in Don Tum District, Nakhon Pathom Province
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Abstract
Objectives: This study is a correlational research project aimed to examine the level of health literacy and the factors associated with health literacy in the prevention of hypertension among village health volunteers (VHVs) in Don Tum District, Nakhon Pathom Province. Methods: A correlational research design was employed, with a sample of 260 participants selected through random sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire consisting of four parts: 1) personal factors, 2) personal ability factors, 3) VHV performance factors, and 4) health literacy in preventing of hypertension among VHVs. The questionnaire had an Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) value of 1 and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .97, .96 and .98. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational coefficients analysis. Results: The majority of participants demonstrated a very high level of health literacy. Personal ability factors that showed a low positive correlation with the health literacy of VHVs included technology utilization ability (rs = .245), writing ability (rs = .196), and reading ability (rs = .168), with statistical significance at p < .05. Performance factors, which desire for work performance (r = .781), social support (r = .773) and encompassed role perception as VHVs (r = .739), were positively correlated with health literacy outcomes of VHVs, with statistical significance at p < .05. Conclusion: To enhance VHVs’ health literacy in hypertension prevention, it is recommended to promote individual abilities in reading, writing, and technology utilization. Additionally, fostering social support, increasing motivation for work performance, and enhancing the perception of their roles as VHVs are critical strategies for improving their overall effectiveness.
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