Objective: To investigate the effects of health literacy enhancing program on STI/HIV prevention (HLP) of vocational students.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study conducted by using one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 51 vocational students were selected from the 7th health region. The research instruments of the health literacy enhancing program on STI/HIV prevention were used for the data collection. The program was developed based on health literacy of Nutbeam which consisted of 6 components including: knowledge and understanding, access to information and health services, communicating skills, self-management, media literacy, decision-making skills. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including paired t-test which identified the mean difference between before and after the program implementation had been reported.

Results: The present study observed the mean score of the participant was higher after the participation in the program. The mean difference between before and after participation was 26.5 with 95% confidence interval 23.6 to 29.3 scores, p<0.001.

Conclusion: The present study suggests that the HLP could improve health literacy. Therefore, this program should be provided to students or teenagers in the educational institutions.

Keywords: STI/HIV prevention; Health literacy; Vocational students

DOI: doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.10.13084

Received 14 June 2021 | Revised 17 September 2021 | Accepted 17 September 2021