Health Literacy Survey in Thais Residing in the Lower South
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Abstract
Objective: To survey health literacy (HL) of Thais residing in 7 provinces within the Lower Southern region including Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Trang, Satun, and Phatthalung. Methods: The study employed multistage sampling by collecting data from the most populous district in each province. The study divided the district into municipal areas and non-municipal areas, and then randomly chose one sub-district from each municipal area and each non-municipal area. Subsequently, one village/community was randomly selected from each sub-district. The researcher used convenient sampling to select households and collected data from 1 randomly selected subject per household. The sample size in each province was proportional to the size of population in provinces. The tool used to assess HL was Thai Health Literacy Assessment with extended questions for comprehension test (THLA-W +). Results: Survey in 1,310 samples found the average score of the THLA-W+ was 34.65±8.83 (from a full score of 48) with 56.49 percent of subjects having inadequate HL (with a score of THLA-W + ≤37). The average score of the THLA-W+ in subjects with grade 7-9 which was close to compulsory education (grade 9) was 32.6±8.3. Subjects with a higher level of education had high scores of the THLA-W+ than those with a lower education. One way ANOVA showed significant interaction between education and age (F=2.34, df=12, 1290, P<0.001). In all age groups, those with high vocational certificate/Bachelor degrees or higher had a significantly higher level of THLA-W+ than those with a lower level of education, except for those with 60 years or older which those with high vocational certificate/Bachelor degrees or higher having more HL than those with primary school education. Those with high vocational certificate/Bachelor's degree or higher had an average THLA-W+ greater than 37 in all age groups. The THLA-W+ had good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92). Conclusion: More than half of the people in the Lower South had inadequate HL. The result on average levels of THLA-W+ in various groups of education and ages could assist government agencies related to consumer protection or private sector for preparing health related documents and medias that are understandable for targeted population.
Article Details
ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
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