The Relationship Between Health Literacy Levels with Hygiene Behaviors of Secondary School Students

Abstract

Aim: This research was conducted to determine the relationship between secondary school students' hygiene behaviors and health literacy levels. Method: The population of the cross-sectional descriptive and correlation-seeking research consisted of a total of 786 students studying in the sixth and seventh grades in the 2022-2023 academic year in five secondary schools located in a city center. The research was conducted with a total of 766 students, aiming to reach the entire population without choosing a sample. The data were collected using the "Introductory Information Form", "Hygiene Behavior Scale" and "Health Literacy Scale for School-Age Children" and evaluated using the SPSS 22.0 package program. Results: 52.9% of the students are male, 66.3% are between the ages of 10-12, 72.8% have a nuclear family type, 67.8% define their school success as medium level and 74.7% perceive their general health status as good. It was determined that the students' health literacy was at a medium level and their hygiene behavior was at a high level. A positive significant relationship was found between students' hygiene behaviors and health literacy scale score averages, and it was revealed that as students' health literacy levels increased, their hygiene behavior levels also increased (p<0.05). It was determined that the hygiene behaviors and health literacy levels of female students were significantly higher than male students, students with high school success than students with medium and low school success, and students who perceived their general health status as good than students who perceived their general health status as medium and poor (p <0.05). Conclusion: Research findings reveal that increasing the health literacy levels of students is effective in their display of correct hygiene behaviors. It can be recommended that school curricula should focus on issues related to health, health literacy and hygiene, and that students should be supported through education and counseling by health professionals in general and school health nurses in particular, in order to develop health awareness and exhibit healthy behaviors.