ผลของโปรแกรมส่งเสริมความรอบรู้ด้านสุขภาพต่อความรอบรู้ด้านสุขภาพ  พฤติกรรมการป้องกันโรคอ้วน และน้ำหนักตัวของเด็กวัยเรียน

Patthanit Jongkae; พิมพ์ใจ อุ่นบ้าน; Nutthachayada Rajchawang

Authors

Patthanit Jongkae Borommarajonani College of Nursing Chiang Mai Faculty of Nursing, Praboromarajchanok Institute
พิมพ์ใจ อุ่นบ้าน Borommarajonani College of Nursing Chiang Mai Faculty of Nursing, Praboromarajchanok Institute
Nutthachayada Rajchawang Borommarajonani College of Nursing Chiang Mai Faculty of Nursing, Praboromarajchanok Institute

Keywords:

Health Literacy, Obesity, Prevention Behaviors, School-Aged Children

Abstract

This two-group pretest–posttest design quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a health literacy promotion program on health literacy, obesity prevention behaviors and body weight among school-aged children. The sample consisted of 60 primary school students in grades 4–6, aged 9 – 12 years, in San Kamphaeng district of Chiang Mai Province. Participants were equally divided into an experimental and a control group (n = 30). The study was conducted between May and September 2023. The intervention was a newly-developed health literacy promotion program for obesity prevention in school-aged children, based on Nutbeam’s conceptual framework, with a content validity index of .90. Research instruments included: 1) the Health Literacy form, from the Bureau of Health Education (Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of .82) ;
2) the Obesity Prevention Behavior Assessment form, from the same Bureau of the Thai Ministry of Health (Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of .80) ; 3) the Health Literacy Knowledge and Understanding Assessment (KR-20) (reliability of .76) ; and 4) a weight record form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests. The study results were as follows.

1. The experimental group had significantly higher mean scores for health literacy (p-value < .001) and obesity prevention behaviors (p-value < .05) compared to the control group.

2. Within the experimental group, mean scores for health literacy and obesity prevention behaviors were significantly higher after participation in the program compared to before (p-value < .001).

3. No significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in mean changes in body weight.

This study suggests that promoting health literacy is an effective approach to enhancing and modifying health behaviors. Therefore, relevant agencies and educational/health personnel may apply this concept in activities for preventing obesity among school-aged children.

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