FACTORS RELATED TO HEALTH LITERACY AMONG THE ELDERLY IN PAK PHLI DISTRICT, NAKHON NAYOK PROVINCE

Abstract

             This study aimed to investigate the level of health literacy and relationship between personal characteristics, health behaviors 3E.2S., and health literacy among the elderly in Pak Phli District, Nakhon Nayok Province. The 465 elders were selected by using convenience sampling technique. Data were collected during November-December 2018, using health literacy and health behaviors 3E.2S. among people from age 15 years and above (2018 version) evaluation form of Health Education Section, Department, Ministry of Public Health. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and using Chi-Square and Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient to test the relationship.

             The results showed that 1) mean of the health literacies of subjects was 40.91. A half of the elderly were in the level of poor (50.30%). 2) The significant relationship was observed among health literacy and age, occupation (labor and those who are not at home), body mass index, people who have a status in the community, such as village health volunteer, members of the club group and the general people related to health literacy with statistically significant at the level of 0.05, while health behaviors 3E.2S. had positive relationships with health literacy (r = .251, p = .000).

             These findings suggested that health providers should allocate the appropriate health information for the elderly with different levels of health literacy and personal characteristics.