The Relationship between Health Literacy and Prevention and Control Behaviors of Vector-Borne Diseases among Village Health Volunteers in Khu Mueang District, Buriram Province

Abstract

Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) play a crucial role in the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. This analytical cross-sectional research aimed to study the levels of health literacy and prevention and control behaviors regarding vector-borne diseases, and to examine the relationship between health literacy and these behaviors among VHVs in Khu Mueang District, Buriram Province. A total of 325 VHVs from Khu Mueang District, Buriram Province, were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected between October and December 2024 using a questionnaire focused on health literacy and prevention and control behaviors for vector-borne diseases. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient at a 95% confidence level. The results revealed that most of the participants had an excellent level of health literacy (79.08%) and a good level of prevention and control behaviors (97.54%). There was a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between overall health literacy and vector-borne disease prevention and control behaviors (r=0.45, p<0.01). When considering specific dimensions, access to information (r=0.37, p<0.01), health understanding (r=0.38, p<0.01), and media literacy (r=0.37, p<0.01) showed moderate positive correlations with prevention and control behaviors. Additionally, decision-making skills (r=0.29, p<0.01) and self-management application (r=0.30, p<0.01) showed low but statistically significant positive correlations with these behaviors. Therefore, government agencies should implement policies to promote health literacy among VHVs by developing all five dimensions of health literacy. This would enable them to maintain desirable prevention behaviors and serve as role models for community members, thereby reducing risks and preventing vector-borne diseases.