FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIORS TO STRENGTHEN IMMUNITY DURING THR COVID-19 EPIDEMIC OF THE ELDERLY IN NONG TAKHIAN BON SUBDISTRICT, WATTHANA NAKHON DISTRICT, SA KAEO PROVINCE

Abstract

This research was Survey research by Cross-sectional study. The objectives to study knowledge, attitude, behavior, and factors associated to food consumption behavior for strengthening the immune system during the COVID-19 pandemic among elders at Nong Takhian Bon Sub-District, Watthana Nakhon District, Sa Kaeo Province. There were 260 people participating in this study,
by multistage Sampling and collecting data by questionnaire. IOC 06.7-1.00, Reliability of knowledge by KR-20 were 0.87, Reliability of attitude and behaviors by Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient were 0.91 and 0.79.  Descriptive statistics, for example frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, were reported in the present study. Inferential Statistics, such as Chi-square, was used for analyzing the significant relationship between the variables (p < 0.05).

The results showed that the percentages of the knowledge of food consumption, the attitude of food consumption, and food consumption behavior were 75.0, 76.9, and 73.8, respectively. In other words, the results demonstrate that the knowledge of food consumption, the attitude of food consumption, and food consumption behavior were moderate. Factors related to food consumption behavior to enhance immunity of the samples, such as gender, occupation, education level, average income, status, housing style, congenital disease, history of illness with COVID-19, knowledge and attitude about food consumption to enhance immunity during the COVID-19 epidemic were significantly different (p < 0.05).

The relevant staff can use the results of this research to be baseline data for developing knowledge and changing attitude towards the consumption. As a result, people are able to do proper dietary habits.