TY - JOUR
T1 - An Important Strategy to Improve Adolescent Health Literacy
T2 - COVID-19 Modules in High School in Indonesia
AU - Hasanatuludhhiyah, Nurina
AU - Visuddho, Visuddho
AU - Purba, Abdul Khairul Rizki
AU - d'Arqom, Annette
AU - Marchianti, Ancah Caesarina Novi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine.
PY - 2023/11/1
Y1 - 2023/11/1
N2 - Objectives: During the second coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge, cases increased sharply due to low awareness and compliance with measures to limit disease spread. Health literacy (HL) is an important component of public health initiatives, and schools are potential sources of health education to increase HL via the presentation of COVID-19 educational modules. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved an online questionnaire administered to students from 5 high schools in Surabaya and Sidoarjo, Indonesia, 6-7 weeks after the start of government-issued directives restricting public gatherings. We collected data on each respondent's age, gender, parental education, and socioeconomic variables. HL was determined by the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents. We additionally measured their attitudes and behaviors related to preventing the spread of COVID-19. The students were asked if they watched the COVID-19 module at school, their feelings about vaccination, and preferred online sources of COVID-19-related information. Results: Most of the 432 respondents had viewed COVID-19 modules at school. Module exposure was associated with significantly higher total and domain-specific HL and more positive attitudes toward government-issued COVID-19 restrictions on travel and public gatherings (p<0.05). However, behaviors to prevent COVID-19 spread and vaccine acceptance were not associated with module exposure. Most students chose social media as their source of COVID-19-related information. Conclusions: Schools can provide information to increase adolescents' HL and the public's support for health initiatives to prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19.
AB - Objectives: During the second coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge, cases increased sharply due to low awareness and compliance with measures to limit disease spread. Health literacy (HL) is an important component of public health initiatives, and schools are potential sources of health education to increase HL via the presentation of COVID-19 educational modules. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved an online questionnaire administered to students from 5 high schools in Surabaya and Sidoarjo, Indonesia, 6-7 weeks after the start of government-issued directives restricting public gatherings. We collected data on each respondent's age, gender, parental education, and socioeconomic variables. HL was determined by the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents. We additionally measured their attitudes and behaviors related to preventing the spread of COVID-19. The students were asked if they watched the COVID-19 module at school, their feelings about vaccination, and preferred online sources of COVID-19-related information. Results: Most of the 432 respondents had viewed COVID-19 modules at school. Module exposure was associated with significantly higher total and domain-specific HL and more positive attitudes toward government-issued COVID-19 restrictions on travel and public gatherings (p<0.05). However, behaviors to prevent COVID-19 spread and vaccine acceptance were not associated with module exposure. Most students chose social media as their source of COVID-19-related information. Conclusions: Schools can provide information to increase adolescents' HL and the public's support for health initiatives to prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19.
KW - Adolescent
KW - COVID-19
KW - Health literacy
KW - School
KW - Social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178850573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3961/jpmph.23.113
DO - 10.3961/jpmph.23.113
M3 - Article
C2 - 37941327
AN - SCOPUS:85178850573
SN - 1975-8375
VL - 56
SP - 523
EP - 532
JO - Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
JF - Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
IS - 6
ER -