Predictors of health literacy on health behavior among the village health volunteers

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to explore health literacy and health behavior level, as well as examine relationship and predictive power between these two variables among village health volunteers. Sample were 156 village health volunteers in one sub-district of Khon Kaen Province. Sample was recruited using simple random technique with a non-returning lottery number of villages. Data were collected using a health literacy questionnaire and a health behavior questionnaire of health volunteers. The content validity was tested by three experts, obtaining Index of Item Objective Congruence (IOC) = 0.89. Reliability test indicated that Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient was 0.87. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression statistics were brought into the analysis of the data.

The results revealed that the level of all five dimensions of health literacy (accessing to health information and services; adequate understanding of health information and services for action; Responding and questioning to increase cognition; making health decisions; communicating and knowledge exchanging of health information) were at high levels. In addition, they had low levels and very low levels of positive correlation with health behaviors of village health volunteers with statistical significance (r=.157, .219, .189, .236, and .344, respectively).

When analyzing the predictive power of health literacy on health behaviors of village health volunteers, it was found that only one variable, communicating and knowledge exchanging of health information, was a predictive covariate of health behaviors at 11.80% (R²=.118) with statistical significance (p<.001). The results of this study can guide to develop guideline and plan to promote health literacy and health behaviors for among village health volunteers.