Factors related to Health Behavior of Secondary and Vocational Students in Lamphun Province, 2008

Abstract

          The purpose of this study was to examine health behaviors and factors related to health behavior of 1,863 Matthayomsuksa years two and five, and second-year vocational students in  Lamphun province selected by a quota sampling. Data collection method used self-administrate questionnaires by filling up answers in a pocket PC or palm model  Zire 21. The data were analyzed by decretive statistics,, and the relationships were tested by Chi-square. The findings showed that age and class correlated to the health behavior of the subjects at reliability level of 95 percent. Male students took narcotic rugs. Smoked cigarettes, and drank alcoholics more than that of female students (p<.00) at 11.7, 18.7, 58.8 and 2.4, 3.0, 41.4 percent respectively. Female students wore a helmet while driving a motorbike less than male students by 4.0 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. However, the number of male students consuming alcoholic drink on hour before was more than of the females by 19.8 and 8.4 percent respectively. Regarding daily food consumption, male and female students consumed fresh vegetables and fruits in a similar ratio, but female students ate snacks more than the male students did (p<0.00). Furthermore, the male students practiced an exercise more than  female students did. 32.7 percent of female students had no exercise nor the male students 15.4 percent. Regarding school factor, vocational students. The vocational students performed health behavior to behavior to protect themselves from accident less than the secondary school students did. For consumption behavior, vegetable and fruit consumption ratios were  similar in all groups, including snacks and fast food. In addition, the number of vocational students who did not exercise at all in last week was 35.1 percent, while did the second –year secondary school students was 47.6 percent. The differences of these factors would develop a guideline to implement suitable health problem solving and health promotion scheme in present situation, especially for the risk behaviors leading to chronic diseases among the students.