Awat Joselito G. Preventive behavior of malaria among people living along the Thai-Cambodia border Khilonghad district Srakaeo province. Master's Degree(Primary Health Care Management). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Preventive behavior of malaria among people living along the Thai-Cambodia border Khilonghad district Srakaeo province
Abstract:
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the preventive
behavior of malaria among people living along the Thai-Cambodia border
Klonghad district Srakaeo province Thailand and to determine the knowledge,
perception and behavior on malaria prevention by socio-demographic
characteristics as well as the relationship of knowledge, perception and malaria
preventive behavior. Self administered questionnaire was used in collecting data
from 380 respondents aged 18 years and above living in 4 sub-district of Klonghad
district areas from 2nd to 15 of February 2006.
Based on the results of the study, the knowledge on malaria prevention was
categorized into 3 levels. More than half of the people had good overall
knowledge. However, the knowledge about control, preventive and curative
measure was poor, particularly the knowledge of insecticides. There were
significant differences in the knowledge by, occupation, family income and
income with savings. In addition, all the levels of the knowledge had significant
positive correlation with malaria preventive behavior. For the perception levels,
more than half of the respondents positively perceived towards susceptibility,
severity and benefit-barrier of malaria and all the levels were significantly
correlated with malaria preventive behavior.
Concerning the preventive behavior, which was defined treatment seeking
and preventive behavior the majority of the respondent, went to the public
hospital/private clinic when sick. But the preventive practice was poor, 90 percent
had poor practice. Though subjects regularly used bed net, but they rarely check
for holes before sleeping and percent of the respondents neither used DDT
insecticide spray indoors nor prophylactic drug.
There was significant positive correlation among the knowledge,
perception and preventive behavior on malaria. Therefore, the government should
promote the Primary Health Care approach to improve knowledge, preventive
behavior among people living along the Thai-Cambodia border as well as the
achievement of malaria programme.