Predictive Factors of Preventive Behaviors against Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases among High School Students in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province

Abstract

Over the past two decades, many unknown diseases have spread rapidly and have become fatal. At the same time, the same disease that was once known and thought to be lost has resurrected to spread again with more violence. As a result, the spread of germs occurs easily and could impact health, economy, and society. The objective of this project is to study the factors that influence the behavior of preventing emerging and re-emerging diseases. This survey research studies grade 10-12 students in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand. An online survey which an index of item-objective congruence equal to 0.88 was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. The result showed that the participants had knowledge about emerging and re-emerging diseases at a high level (82.50%). Regarding attitude toward the prevention of emerging and re-emerging diseases at a high level (84.00%) and the practices about the prevention of emerging and re-emerging diseases at a high level (60.50%). Predictive factors for emerging and re-emerging disease preventive behavior were study program, household income, and attitude toward prevention which could predict 25.30%, 21.60% and 25.80% respectively. When classified by item, it was found that most of the participants had knowledge of emerging infectious diseases. However, the participants showed a lack of knowledge about re-emerging diseases. The findings from this study can be further used to provide knowledge and promote the prevention of emerging and re-emerging diseases.