The effectiveness of the program to enhance health literacy for parents of children with suspected delays in language development at the Model Development and Innovations Services for Good Children Health Clinic, Metropolitan Health and Wellness Instituti

Abstract

This research is experimental research. The objectives 1) Evaluate the effectiveness of the program for creating health literacy for parents of children with suspected language delays. 2) Compare the development of children before and after participating in the program. Using a quasi-experimental research design. Measure results before and after the experiment among parents and children receiving services aged 9 months - 3 years 6 months  screened with a manual Developmental Surveillance and Promotion Manual (DSPM) between March – May 2024. Found 30 parents of children with suspected language delays through random selection. Data were collected using a health literacy assessment form consisting of general information and information of the respondents. Parental confidence assessment form Knowledge assessment on storytelling and health literacy assessment form. Data were analyzed using a ready-made program including frequency percentage mean and standard deviation. Differences in means were compared using paired t-test statistics. The results showed that after participating in the program, 93.3% of children's language development was appropriate. Parents had a mean health literacy score (Mean=15.4, SD= 3.09). Which was at the low health literacy level. And the mean score of confidence in promoting language development was higher than before joining the program (Mean=116.8, SD=12.13). Which is at the high level of self-confidence with statistical significance at the 0.05 level. The mean scores on health literacy of parents before and after entering the program, the score is less than 60 percent  which means that people have an insufficient level of health literacy. Research results indicate that the level of health literacy of parents is not sufficient to Practice in promoting language development therefore creating knowledge for parents in the long term should be supported. Increase access to information create knowledge and understanding to decide on promoting development for children to develop back to their age.