Abstract

This research aims to lay a foundation in health literacy for well-informed and inquiring citizens through schooland community networks. A municipal school in Phon district, Khon Kaen province in Thailand was recruited asa case study. The research was a participatory action research. Participants were students, school teachers,administrator, the Mayor of the city, district public health officers, police officers, and parents. Two networkswere established; a strategic network and a procedure network. The strategic network was centered on theoutside organizations, namely the municipality office, district public health office, police station, communityorganizations, and parents. The procedure network was the collaborative work between higher education instituteand school. The two networks also worked collaboratively in order to enhance the promotion of health literacy inthe school. The research instruments included field notes, teachers’ portfolio and lesson plans, interviewing data,and a record of After Action Reflection. The two-year programme revealed that: 1) teachers showed strongcommitment to the continuous promotion of health literacy in school; 2) participating organizations turned out tobe a permanent network with school, and; 3) the concept of health literacy extended throughout the community,from students to their families. The parents and community members showed an awareness and interest inpromoting health literacy practices.

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