The Assessment of Knowledge and Health Behaviours in consumer Protection of the Village Health Volunteers in Lamphun Province

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge and health behaviors in terms of consumer protection among village health volunteers (VHVs) in Lamphun Province in which 456 individuals in charge of consumer protection at the district level were randomly selected. The study used a questionnaire developed to suit the operating context of Lamphun Province, with Cronbach's alpha Coefficient at 0.783.

          The majority of the VHVs participating in the study were female with an average age of 53.3 years, working as employees (37.0%) and earning less than 5,000 baht (47.4%). Their highest education is at the primary level (39.7%). The sample group, whose roles and responsibilities are surveillance, prevention, and control of communicable diseases (60.3%), has been working as VHVs for 2-10 years (38.4%). 80.7 percent of them have successfully passed health training. After the training, the VHVs gained more knowledge with a statistically significant level of .01.

          As shown in the study, different working periods as VHVs led to different knowledge gains, with statistical significance at the .05 level. Interestingly, the VHVs have good health behaviors. Different age ranges had significantly different effects on health behaviors at the .05 and .01 levels. However, knowledge was positively correlated with health behaviors at the .01 level.

          The study indicated that the VHVs in the area had knowledge of consumer protection and could also apply it to improve their health behaviors and deal with consumer protection problems in the area. In addition, encouraging the collaboration of VHVs and officials at both district and provincial levels as well as involved agencies could help sustainably solve consumer protection problems.