Predictors for Preventive Behaviors of Health Hazards from Dust Exposure among the Elderly in a Semi-Urban Community
Keywords:
health hazards, dust exposure, semi-urban society, elderlyAbstract
A semi-urban community area used for agricultural activities was transformed into an industrial factory, which affected human health, especially among the elderly. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate the predictors for preventive behaviors of health hazards from dust exposure among the elderly in a semi-urban community. A total of 280 elderly participated in the study. All were living in the Kusuman District, Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand; an approximate 2km2 area with a sugar factory. The data measurement instrument was a questionnaire, which the researchers used to collect participant demographics, home environment, and knowledge and behaviors to prevent health hazards from dust exposure. A descriptive statistical and stepwise multiple regression analysis for the factors related to, and factors predictive of, preventive behaviors of health hazards from dust exposure were analyzed. The results revealed that 87.5% of the participants had knowledge of dust prevention practices at a high level, and 54.3% demonstrated preventive behaviors of health hazards from dust exposure at a low- moderate level. The sample had experience of dust exposure from industrial factories (52.5%). The home environment analysis found that 73.2% of the participants had houses next to roads and were exposed to dust from soil diffusion caused by traffic. The factors that could predict preventive behaviors consisted of experience of dust exposure from factories, relevant knowledge, health information from public healthcare officials, and length of stay in the area. The best predictors for preventive behaviors in the elderly population were experience of dust exposure from factories (β = 0.88, p < 0.001), followed by knowledge (β = 0.62, p < 0.001). Based on the findings of this study, healthcare providers should develop activities that contribute to the elderly taking preventive measures to reduce their dust exposure, in particular activities that enhance their knowledge of how to avoid dust exposure, while also focusing on the risks to health from exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
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