Health Literacy and Factors Related to Risk Behaviors for Syphilis Infection Among Adolescents Studying at A College in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

          This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to investigate health literacy level and to examine associations between factors and risk behaviors for syphilis infection among adolescents studying at a college in Mueang District, Khon Kaen. Totally, 165 participants were recruited randomly. Questionnaires with three main parts were used to collect the data during October to December 2020 (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient =0.94). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics: percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum, and using inferential statistics: multiple logistic regressions with 95%CI.

          This study found that 42 % of respondents held an intermediate level of knowledge and understanding about syphilis, and 50.91% had high health literacy level. Two major factors affecting risk behaviors for syphilis were having alcoholic beverage (AOR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.33 to 5.16, p-value=0.006). Respondents obviously showed a low level of health-related communication skill (AOR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.26 to 0.92, p-value = 0.026). Having alcoholic beverage and low level of health-related communication skill among adolescents in this study is of concern for syphilis infection. Therefore, there should be a campaign not only to stop alcohol drinking but to advocate health literacy, particularly communication skills, for reducing risk behaviors for syphilis infection.