Health Information Sources Influencing Health Literacy in Different Social Contexts across Age Groups in Northern Thailand Citizens

Nida Buawangpong, Wachiranun Sirikul, Chanya Anukhro, Mathuramat Seesen, Aroon La-up and Penprapa Siviroj
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Nida Buawangpong: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Wachiranun Sirikul: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Chanya Anukhro: Regional Health Promotion Center 1, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Mathuramat Seesen: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Aroon La-up: Department of Community Public Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Penprapa Siviroj: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Health literacy is an essential social determinant of health and has been associated with positive health outcomes. While many sources of health information are widely available, people of different ages also have diverse social contexts and preferences for health information sources. This study aimed to identify health information sources and socio-demographics influencing health literacy in different social contexts across age groups: 15–29 years (young), 30–59 years (middle-age), and ≥60 years (elderly). We obtained secondary data from a cross-sectional study in northern Thailand from March to August 2019. Multivariate linear regression with age group subgroup analysis was used to determine factors associated with general health literacy by the Thai version of the health literacy questionnaire. Receiving health information from physicians was significantly associated with higher general health literacy in young (β 6.45, 95%CI 0.44–12.45; p = 0.035) and elderly (β 5.18, 95%CI 1.84–8.52; p = 0.002) groups, while receiving health information from health volunteers was significantly associated with a higher general health literacy in the middle-aged (β 2.89, 95%CI 0.38–5.39; p = 0.024) group. Although younger participants showed more frequent access to health information via the media than the other age groups, there were no media sources significantly linked with their general health literacy. Health information from physicians is a vital source of health information.

Keywords: health literacy; social contexts across age groups; source of health information; Thailand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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