Digital health literacy, behavior and knowledge of adolescents regarding hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: to investigate factors associated with digital health literacy, knowledge and behavior for hand hygiene among Brazilian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: cross-sectional study carried out with 473 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. Data were obtained virtually, between June and August 2021, through a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, digital health literacy, knowledge and behavior for hand hygiene. Variables were adjusted by multiple linear regression models with normal response. Results: the mean score for digital health literacy was 29.89 +/- 5.30. For knowledge and behavior for hand hygiene, it was 13.1 +/- 1.5 and 11.1 +/- 2.7, respectively. Higher scores for knowledge and behavior for hand hygiene were associated with having completed high school, when compared to those attending college, those taking health courses, those seeking information about the pandemic and in scientific articles. Furthermore, there were higher digital health literacy scores in adolescents who did not wear masks when playing sports (p = 0.017). There was an association between digital health literacy and knowledge (p = 0.000) and behavior (p = 0.000) for hand hygiene. Conclusion: there is an association between higher digital health literacy scores and knowledge and behavior for hand hygiene.