Health Literacy and Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma Preventive Behaviors of Pickled Fish Establishments in Health Area 7.

Abstract

     This Survey research by cross sectional analytic study aimed to study health literacy in preventing Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma. Behaviors to prevent Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma and the relationship between health literacy and behavior prevention of Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma of Pickled Fish Establishments in Health area 7. The study area is Municipalities and sub-district administrative organizations, totaling 8 locations in Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mahasarakham and Roi Et provinces. Criteria for selecting the study area are: Localities where there are establishments producing Plara and Plasom (fermented fish) for sale. The participants were 72 Pickled Fish Establishments that produced for sale. The sample selected all Pickled Fish Establishments. The tools used in the research are Interview form developed by the researcher. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The results found that there were 72 Pickled Fish Establishments with an average age of 54 years (S.D =9.5), 90.3% female, 83.4% marital status, 69.5% completed primary education 77.8% living next to a water source, 63.9% most of whom were cooks in the household, 18.1% had direct relatives in the family with Cholangiocarcinoma /liver cancer, 86.1% had had their stool tested for parasite eggs to find Opisthorchis viverrini, 22.2% had been infected with Opisthorchis viverrini. Health literacy in preventing Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma among Pickled Fish Establishments were at a low level 93.1%. Preventive behaviors for Opisthorchist viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma among Pickled Fish Establishments were found to be at a level that should be improved at 73.6%. Overall, health literacy in preventing liver fluke and bile duct cancer were significantly associated with prevention behavior for Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma (rs = 0.515, p-value =.0001). When considering each aspect, it was found that access to health information and services is related to Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma prevention behavior with statistical significance (rs =0.297,p-value = .011).