The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Preventive Behaviors Towards COVID-19 Among Rural Thai Youth: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Health literacy is a key factor influencing how young people adopt coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive behaviors. Investigating this relationship is essential to protect youth, guide effective public health interventions, and strengthen resilience in future pandemics. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between health literacy and preventive behaviors among rural youths in Thailand. Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design and was conducted between December 2023 and May 2024. The sample consisted of 373 youths residing in rural areas of Samut Songkhram province, Thailand. Stratified random sampling was used, with educational institutions serving as the sampling units. Two schools were randomly selected from each of the province’s three districts — totaling six schools — using simple random sampling. Data were collected through an online questionnaire (via Google Forms), which consisted of three parts. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The results showed that 60.9% of the participants were female, and the majority were 17 years old, accounting for 21.7%. Most participants had previously been infected with COVID-19, representing 70.0%, and the majority had received two full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, totaling 91.4%. In addition, 50.9% of participants demonstrated a good level of health literacy, while 46.4% exhibited good preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Furthermore, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between health literacy and preventive behaviors (R = 0.783, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study can inform planning efforts aimed at enhancing health literacy and promoting preventive behaviors against COVID-19, including the development of targeted programs or activities for rural youths.