Relationships between Personal Factors and Health Belief Model on the Malaria Prevention Behavior of Burmese Migrant Workers in Mae Sot District, Tak Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationships between personal factors and health belief patterns related to malaria prevention behaviors among 418 Burmese migrant workers in Mae Sot district, Tak province. A non-probability sampling method, specifically convenience sampling, was used to recruit the participants. Data were collected through a questionnaire developed by the researcher that covered personal factors, health beliefs, and malaria prevention behaviors. The questionnaire was explained in detail to 10 Burmese-speaking health officials to ensure accurate understanding during interviews with the sample group. The content validity of the instrument was verified by three experts, yielding a content validity index between 0.67 and 1.00. The reliability of the health belief model and malaria prevention behavior questionnaire were confirmed with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.87 and 0.81, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, as well as multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed that the overall health belief perception was at a high level (M = 10.13, SD = .57) and the level of malaria prevention behavior was appropriate (M = 1.63, SD = .45). Additionally, it was found that age (p = .043), education level (p = .039), average monthly family income (p = .014), duration of residence in the area (p = .012), and perceived barriers to prevention (p = .007) were significantly associated with malaria prevention behaviors at the 0.05 level.