TROPHICO: Tropical Public Health Journal
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): TROPHICO: Tropical Public Health Journal

Correlation between access to health information and health literacy among adolescents in Aceh, Indonesia

Chelsea Indriani (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia)
Dina Rasmita (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

The development of digital technology has brought about significant changes in how adolescents access health information; however, the main challenge remains their ability to evaluate and utilize information effectively. This study aims to examine the relationship between access to health information and levels of health literacy among adolescents in Aceh Tamiang. The study employs a descriptive correlational design with a quantitative approach, involving 88 students from SMA Negeri 4 Kejuruan Muda, selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected via a health information access questionnaire and the Indonesian version of the Health Literacy Survey (Q16). Bivariate analysis using Spearman's Rho test revealed a very strong positive relationship between health information access and adolescents' health literacy levels (r = 0.802, p < 0.05). The majority of respondents had moderate access to information (60.2%), whilst health literacy levels were predominantly in the adequate category (43.2%); however, the majority of adolescents had inadequate literacy. This study indicates that good access to health information is a key factor in the development of health literacy in line with the European health literacy model. However, access to information without critical literacy skills risks increasing exposure to misinformation. These findings contribute to the development of comprehensive, context-specific health literacy interventions grounded in access to information and serve as a reference for the design of policies and health literacy education programs for adolescents in rural areas of Indonesia.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

trophico

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Medicine & Pharmacology Nursing Public Health

Description

TROPHICO: Tropical Public Health Journal is a journal published by TALENTA Publisher, Universitas Sumatera Utara and managed by Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara. TROPHICO publishes research articles in the field of public health or other disciplines related to public health that ...