Factors Related to Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention and Control Behaviors Among Caregivers in Childcare Centers, Li District, Lamphun Province

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed method research was to study the factors related to hand, foot and mouth disease prevention and control behaviors among caregivers in 28 childcare centers, Li district, Lamphun province. Data were collected from caregivers working in the childcare centers under the Local Administrative Organization. The quantitative data were collected by interviews with questionnaires and test forms from 113 caregivers and the qualitative data were obtained through an in-depth interview with ten caregiver volunteers. The statistics used in data analysis were descriptive statistics, stepwise multiple regression analysis and an interpretation of inductive conclusions. The results of quantitative research found that predisposing factors, enabling factors, reinforcing factors and the behaviors to prevent and control of the hand, foot and mouth disease were scored at a medium level. The factors that could predict behaviors of the hand, foot and mouth disease include attitudes toward hand, foot and mouth disease, received advices to prevent and control of the hand, foot and mouth disease from various people and suggestions from the childcare centers, they could predict 30.50 percent with statistical significance (P<0.05). For qualitative research revealed that the childcare centers were managed in accordance with a guideline for hand, foot and mouth disease prevention and control under the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. Despite the implementation by those guidelines, some childcare centers carried out management incorrectly, such as cleaning toys and stuffs in     a wrong way and closing down childcare centers less than 5 business days. Therefore, the finding from this study could introduce the relevant persons and units for planning and proposing a guideline the caregivers are able to take care children properly and gaining    the benefit for prevention and control of hand foot mouth disease in the future.