Factors related to health literacy of village health volunteers and family doctors, Sichon District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

Abstract

            This study was a descriptive cross-sectional research with two objectives: (1) to assess the level of health literacy among village health volunteers (VHVs), known as "Household Doctors," in Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and (2) to examine the factors associated with their health literacy. The sample consisted of 124 VHVs working in Chalong Subdistrict, Sichon District, selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and mean. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationships between variables.

            The results showed that the overall health literacy level of the VHVs was moderate (66.90%). Specifically, the skill of accessing health information and services was moderate (69.40%), understanding health information (70.20%), evaluating health information and services (69.40%), and applying health information and services (72.60%). Regarding health knowledge, most VHVs had a high level (87.10%), followed by a moderate level (12.90%). The analysis of relationships revealed that the length of time serving as a VHV was significantly associated with health literacy (p-value = 0.042), and health knowledge was also significantly associated with health literacy (p-value < 0.001). However, no significant associations were found between health literacy and gender, age, marital status, income, or the number of households under the VHV's responsibility.