Health Literacy Levels and Safe Vegetable Consumption Behaviors among People in Takrob Subdistrict, Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the level of health literacy and safe vegetable consumption behaviors among residents in Takrob Subdistrict, Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province. A survey research design was employed, involving a multi-stage random sample of 407 participants aged between 20 and 60 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering six dimensions of health literacy and behaviors related to the consumption of safe vegetables. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that the participants had a moderate level of health literacy with overall (mean = 3.24); and consumed vegetables regularly, with 44.23% consuming 6 - 7 days per week and 44.23% consumed 4 - 5 days per week. The mean daily consumption of cooked vegetables (4.3 tablespoons) was higer that that of raw vegetables (3.53 tablespoons). Multiple regression analysis indicated that the variable ‘media and information literacy’ was the most influential predictor of behavior (p<0.05), folowed by ‘access to information on safe vegetable consumption’ (p <0.05). The model accounted for a moderate proportion of variance in behavior (R² = 0.38). The results of this study can serve as a basis for developing targeted health promotion programs, community-based communication strategies, and food safety policies that are tailored to the local context, thereby contributing to the long-term improvement of public health.