Community health literacy developing process on liver fluke prevention among people in Yot Kaeng Sub District, Namon District, Kalasin Province

Abstract

A study of community health literacy development process in prevention of liver fluke disease aimed at studying the context, community development process, overall result and key success factor throughout Action research. A total of 263 people were selected using Daniel formula and selection criteria. The instrument used in the research was a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum, and inferential statistics such as Paired t-test were employed for data analyses.

The results of this research found that a nine-stage community health literacy development process; 1) Area context and situation analysis, 2) Community health literacy action plan development, 3) Prevention training program, 4) Campaigns program, 5) Community participation network development, 6) Followed-up and supervision, 7) Implementation supports, 8) Community learning forum, and 9) Lesson learned, showed an effective on preventing liver fluke in community. After development, the mean scores in 5 sections were statistically increased; mean score of roles in good level were increased from 2.33 to 2.45 (p-value = 0.02), knowledge increased from 14.98 to 15.31 (p-value = 0.21), health literacy were increased from 2.22 to 2.30 (p-value = 0.003), participation increased from 2.11 to 2.34 p-value = <0.001), and from 2.22 to 2.30 satisfaction increased from 2.49 to 2.54 (p-value = 0.17), respectively. Furthermore, “Mai Kin Pla Dip” was a community song for distributing information via community information center.

The results of the research revealed that the opportunity for people to participate in every developing process and provide appropriate community media to the community were said to be useful approach for community liver fluke disease prevention. Therefore, this useful process could be further applied in other areas.