Includes bibliographical references.
保密資料3年
公開日期: 2025年9月1日

[摘要]
ABSTRACT
Objective: COVID-19 pandemic brings psychological fear to people due to the rapid spread of information (infodemic). Health literacy is considered helpful to fight against the infodemic during the pandemic. However, because of cultural and language differences, many foreign domestic workers (FDWs) may have limited health literacy. They may have poor levels of health information and become part of a potential chain of communicable diseases. This study aims at finding out the relationship between health literacy and fear amongst FDWs. Method: A cross-sectional survey design study was conducted, using the COVID-19 related health literacy scale (HLS-COVID-19) and COVID-19 fear scale (FCV-19S) self-reported measurement tools. Results: Amongst 379 effective respondents, there are 51.4% who have inadequate or problematic health literacy, and 58.8% have a moderate level of fear. There is a significant negative relationship between health literacy and fear (p<0.001). Older age, females, lower education levels, no regular check-ups, and lack of support are the high-risk group of having misinformation about health among FDWs. Infected family members (p=0.016), together with having physical health care (p=0.010) or body check (p=0.027) as health care reasons (health care habits), and higher health literacy (p<0.001), can adequately explain the fear index (adjusted R2 0.121). Conclusion: This study found that higher levels of health literacy combined with environmental characteristics (health care habits) were the protective factors to fear during the pandemic. Strengthening health literacy and improving health care habits are strategies to promote psychological health in FDWs.