Validation of a Sexual Health Literacy Scale for Secondary School Students in High-Risk Area of Thailand

Abstract

Adolescents need strong sexual health literacy to make decisions that help avoid unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. This study validated the Sexual Health Literacy Scale for Secondary School Students (SHLSS) in high-risk area of Thailand, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Secondary data from a 2018 cross-sectional survey involving 319 secondary school students in Chonburi Province, Thailand, were used. The SHLSS consists of 28 items across four dimensions: Access, Understand, Appraise, and Apply. CFA results demonstrated strong reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.90, and satisfactory construct validity, as composite reliability values ranged from 0.88 to 0.91. Factor loadings varied between 0.43 and 0.81, indicating moderate to strong correlations. However, the Access dimension exhibited lower convergent validity (AVE = 0.28), suggesting need for refinement. These findings highlight need for further validation across diverse cultural groups and support the SHLSS as a promising framework for guiding sexual health education and policy development for adolescents.