Good Governance in the Management of Health Information by the Ban Pom Subdistrict Administrative Organization to Enhance Public Health Literacy

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were: (1) to examine the level of health literacy among the residents of Ban Pom Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; (2) to compare the levels of health literacy among the residents categorized by personal factors; and (3) to study the factors related to access to health information impacting on the health literacy of the local population. This study employed a quantitative research design. The sample consisted of 370 residents of Ban Pom Subdistrict. The research instrument was a questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Independent Sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis.

           The findings revealed that: (1) the residents of Ban Pom Subdistrict had a high level of health literacy in all dimensions, resulting from the information management of the Ban Pom Subdistrict Administrative Organization, based on the principles of good governance; (2) the residents in Ban Pom Subdistrict with different personal factors showed varying levels of health literacy, particularly regarding age, education, occupation, and health-care rights, which differed significantly. In contrast, gender and income showed no significant differences. Finally, (3) the factors of access to health information had an influence on the level of health literacy among them. The most influential factor was on-ground information channels, especially two-way communication channels.