Relationships between Health Knowledge, Self - Care Behaviors and Health Status of Monks, Li District, Lamphun Province

Abstract

In Thailand, there are around three hundred thousands of Buddhist monks who many of them have had problems from health status. The study was a mixed research designs to investigate relationships between health knowledge, self-care behaviors, and health status of monks in Li District, Lamphun Province. The sample group included monks ordained for more than one year was set to perform a quantitative research with 127 monks who were assessed the health status by a questionnaire and to do a qualitative method with 8 monks to be in-depth interviewed. Descriptive statistics analyzed the data by Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficient statistics and inductive analysis. The quantitative research results found that most of the monks had high levels of health knowledge and moderate self-care behaviors. Health knowledge and health status of monks were correlated significantly with self-care behaviors. (p-value<0.05). The qualitative research found that they consumed mostly local cuisine and seasonal vegetables, took a walk for alms, swept the yards, had sufficient sleep, always kept body cleaned, and performed Buddhism principles to relieve stress. Therefore, relevant institutions and organizations should have planned for implementation of health promotion and support health care correctly and sustainably.