Comparison of Health Literacy to Prevent Premature Pregnancy Between Tribal and Lowland High School Students

Abstract

A comparative study of health literacy on prevention of premature pregnancy between tribal and lowland high school students was conducted by a mixed-methods study using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. For the quantitative data, a questionnaire regarding health literacy on prevention of premature pregnancy was used to ask 216 high school students including the groups of tribal and lowland high school students. Each group comprised 108 students. For the qualitative data, in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 individuals. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data, using the conceptual framework of the research to identify the main themes. The findings revealed that the average age of the sample was 17 years. In line with the objective of the study, it was found that the level of health literacy on prevention of premature pregnancy among the tribal and lowland students was at moderate level. The mean score was 113.15 and standard deviation was 16.00. The mean scores of access to health information and services, teaching health literacy, managing own health status and media and information literacy on prevention of premature pregnancy were moderate. Cognitive aspect of health was at a low level while decision making for correct practice was at a very good level. The total means scores of health literacy on prevention of premature pregnancy of the tribes and lowland high school students in were 107.03 (SD = 14.04) and 119.27 (SD = 15.54). Independent t-test statistics showed that there were statistically differences in the mean scores of almost all aspects at the significant level of .05 except element 6 “decision making for correct practice to prevent premature pregnancy”.