The Relationship between Health Literacy and Leptospirosis Self-Prevention Behavior of People in Muang Krabi District, Krabi Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59096/wesr.v55i7.2933Keywords:
Self-Protective Behavior, Health Literacy, LeptospirosisAbstract
Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which is a syndrome caused by the bacterium Leptospira that is transmitted from many animals. Infection is capable of ranging from asymptomatic to mild, severe or even fatal. The disease is most common in tropical or subtropical countries and is common in both urban and rural areas. The situation of leptospirosis in Krabi Province from 2019–2023 revealed the number of cases as 40, 33, 11, 46, 17 cases, calculated as an morbidity rate per 100,000 population of 8.48, 7.00, 2.33, 9.59, 3.54 respectively. This research aimed to 1) examine the health literacy of leptospirosis among people in Mueang Krabi District. Krabi Province 2) evaluate health behaviors to protect themselves from leptospirosis among people in Mueang Krabi District. Krabi Province 3) analyze the relationship between health literacy and health behaviors to protect themselves from leptospirosis.
Method: This research was a descriptive analytical study. A total of 294 study samples were people aged between 18 - 60 years, both female and male, residing in Mueang Krabi District of Krabi Province.
Results: The study samples were mostly female, working age group, graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher and primary school, social status as village health volunteer/family volunteer, labor, monthly income 10,000-29,999 baht. The results of the health literacy assessment in terms of perceptions, feelings, confidence, abilities, or skills in one's own health revealed that all health literacy questions were at a high level. The relationship between health literacy in all areas: (X1–X6) had a positive relationship with self-protective behavior against leptospirosis (X7) as follows: Access to health information and services (X1), Coefficient Correlation = 0.218, (P < 0.01), Understanding of health information and services sufficient for practice (X2), Coefficient Correlation = 0.252, (P < 0.01), Interactive questioning to increase Cognition (X3), Coefficient Correlation = 0.208, (P < 0.01) Health decision-making (X4) Coefficient Correlation = 0.289, (P < 0.01) Health behavior modification Self (X5) Correlation coefficient = 0.234, (P < 0.01) Sharing health information (X6) Coefficient Correlation = 0.327, (P < 0.01).
Conclusion and Recommendation: Health literacy in all areas was positively related to self-protective behavior against leptospirosis. The body of knowledge gained from the research can be used to develop guidelines, manuals, and policy recommendations regarding health knowledge and health behaviors to protect oneself from leptospirosis for administrators, public health personnel and relevant people.
Keywords: Leptospirosis, Health Literacy, Self-Protective Behavior
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