Development of a Risk Communication Model for Health Literacy on Poisonous Mushrooms for Housewives Case Study Buntharik District, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

Poisonous mushrooms are a major health problem for ones who took them. This may lead to lose one’s life. Communication with a health literacy to understand risk of poisonous mushrooms may help to decrease this problem. The aim of the was to develop a risk communication model about health literacy of poisonous mushrooms among housewives. Development research was conducted and process of this research included three steps. First step was context study. Second step was development of a risk communication model about health literacy of poisonous mushrooms. Third step was evaluation. Samples were population who were in Ban Hua Khae Bua Ngam, Buntharik, Ubon Ratchathani Province (N = 30 for the first and second steps; and N = 72 for the third step respectively). Instruments included semi-construction indept-interview and a questionnaire about health literacy of poisonous mushrooms. Data analysis included content analysis, descriptive statistics, and t – test . Findings showed three parts. First, most of samples found mushrooms at areas near forest and mountain. Types of mushrooms were poisonous and nonpoisonous mushrooms. Then, they brought the mushrooms to cook food by themselves. Second, a risk communication model about health literacy of poisonous mushrooms was presented through village health volunteers, community leaders, and instructional media. Third, before and after using the model, means of health literacy of poisonous mushrooms among samples significantly increased (p-value < 0.05). Considering each domain of health literacy, only mean of access information about poisonous mushroom and knowledge of poisonous mushroom were significantly (p-value < 0.05) between before and after using the model. These findings recommended that the development of a risk communication model about health literacy of poisonous mushrooms through village health volunteers, community leaders, and instructional media was effective. The model should be brought to use in other areas in the future.