Abstract
Migrant health workers (MHWs) and migrant health volunteers (MHVs) are key health workforce actors who play a substantial role in improving the health of migrants in Thailand. The objective of this study was to explore the factors associated with health literacy in MHWs and MHVs in Thailand. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted from December 2018 to April 2019 in two migrant-populated provinces. A total of 40 MHWs, 78 MHVs, and 116 general migrants were included in the survey. Results showed that a higher education level was associated with a greater health literacy score. MHWs were more likely to have a higher health literacy score (5.59 points difference) than general migrants. The province per se and type of affiliations did not significantly contribute to the difference in the health literacy score of each individual. Most MHWs received health information from health professionals, health staff, and the internet, while MHVs and general migrants received information from health professionals, MHWs/MHVs, family/friends, and posters/leaflets. This study suggests that a higher education level should be used as a criterion for recruitment of MHWs and MHVs. Access to interactive health information like health professionals should be promoted as the main source of information to ensure better health literacy among MHWs and MHVs.
Highlights
Effective health communication is a key component to achieve the safety and quality of healthcare of any population group, but it is much more crucial for people like migrants who have different language and cultural backgrounds to health personnel [1]
Migrant health workers (MHWs) had a longer duration of living in Thailand compared to general migrants
This study found that education levels were significantly associated with health literacy levels after adjusting for all potential confounders such as age, sex, marital status, income, duration of living in Thailand, and Thai and Myanmar language literacies
Summary
Effective health communication is a key component to achieve the safety and quality of healthcare of any population group, but it is much more crucial for people like migrants who have different language and cultural backgrounds to health personnel [1]. For some sensitive issues, patients may feel uncomfortable in disclosing their symptoms in front of their family members or friends [2]. To overcome these challenges, health facilities employ various strategies such as hiring bilingual health professionals and professional interpreters [3]. With a recognition of the importance of cultural and language differences, formal interpreters should translate the health message as it stands, and consider the meaning of words that match migrants’ social and
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