Health Literacy in Preventing and Controlling Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Among Village Health Volunteer, Pattani Province, Thailand

Background: Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV). The situation of the DHF prevalence rate was still high in the community. One reason for this high rate involves community members, who had less participated in the prevention and control measures of DHF. Objectives: This descriptive study aimed to study factors associated with preventing and controlling DHF among village health volunteer, Pattani Province. Methods: Population consisted of 6,841 village health volunteers registered in Pattani Province, Thailand, in fiscal year 2020, and the sample size was calculated using Daniel formula for 215 cases, and systematic random sampling was carried out for collecting data. Data were collected by questionnaires composed of 3 parts, including characteristics, health literacy factors, and preventing and controlling DHF. In addition to check questionnaire standardization, validity was checked by three experts and try out testing reliability by Cronbach’s coefficient alpha about 0.87. Data were analysed using statistical as Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis. Results: The analysis found that health literacy factors were associated with preventing and controlling DHF among village health volunteer, Pattani Province such as access skill (r=0.310, p-value<0.001) communication skill (r=0.201, p-value=0.003) media literacy skill (r=0.386, p-value<0.001) decision skill (r=0.349, p-value<0.001) self-management skill (r=0.480, p-value<0.001), respectively. Conversely, cognitive skill had no association (r=0.117, p-value=0.086). Conclusion: The finding showed that health literacy of village health volunteer was associated with the preventing and controlling DHF. Therefore, health workers should encourage the village health volunteers to participate in sustainable prevention and control of DHF.