Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 29 (1): 509 - 526 (2021)
ISSN: 0128-7702
e-ISSN 2231-8534
SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
Journal homepage: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/
© Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
E-mail addresses:
andrewjasongeorge89@gmail.com (Andrew Jason George)
moniza@upm.edu.my (Moniza Waheed)
* Corresponding author
Article history:
Received: 04 September 2020
Accepted: 15 February 2021
Published: 26 March 2021
ARTICLE INFO
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.1.28
Malaysian Youth eHealth Literacy via Healthcare Websites:
A Study on Factors Forming Sexual and Reproductive Health
Information-seeking Intention
Andrew Jason George
1
* and Moniza Waheed
2
Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
Extensive research has been carried out to study the relationship between Malaysian youth
and their perceptions of sexual and reproductive health (SRH); ranging from knowledge
and awareness levels to lifestyle choices. However, there is insufcient information on
youth e-health literacy levels on the subject matter. Therefore, this study examines the
factors that infuence youth intention towards using healthcare websites to search for SRH
information. This study is guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) which suggests
that the best indicator of behaviour is intention, which is formed by attitude and subjective
norms. Participants for the study were 400 youth (from 18 – 40 years of age) based in the
Klang Valley area. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire where the
research instruments were adopted from the TRA framework, namely: Attitude, Subjective
Norms, and Intention. Overall, the fndings showed that youth who had positive attitudes
and adequate social support/pressure towards using healthcare websites to fnd SRH
information were likely to have a high intention to do so. One crucial fnding in the context
of this study is how subjective norms are a stronger predictor of SRH information-seeking
intention compared to attitude. This fnding here can add a new dimension to how the TRA
framework is utilised, especially in studies revolving around Asian youth intentions and
behaviours. Ministries, NGOs, and private institutions that advocate better SRH practices
in Malaysia should leverage the infuence of
new media to improve health literacy levels
among youth.
Keywords: Healthcare websites, information-seeking
intention, internet, sexual and reproductive health, the
theory of reasoned action, youth