Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Reproductive Health Between Thai and Immigrant Women Workers in Factories in Samut Sakhon, Thailand

Main Article Content

Rattanaporn Khamthanet
Somsak Suthutvoravut

Abstract

Background: Immigration of women workers from neighboring countries into Thailand to work in factories, usually have poor knowledge, attitude, and misbehavior on reproductive health. This can cause problems of reproductive health in Thai society.


Objective: To compare the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of reproductive health between Thai and immigrant women workers.


Methods: This analytic study compared 107 Thai and 107 immigrant workers in factories in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. All participants were recruited by purposive sampling. Data was collected by self-administered questionnaires which included personal characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and behavior related to reproductive health. Statistical tests were performed to analyze association between variables.


Results: Thai workers were older than immigrant workers (31.3 ± 9.5 years vs 25.3 ± 5.1 years; P < .05) and more marriage (84.1% vs 72.0%; P < .05). Compare with immigrant workers, Thai women workers had finished secondary school or lower (51.4% vs 36.4%; P < .05), earned more than ฿15 000 per month (38.3% vs 3.7%; P < .05), owned their own house (15.0% vs 0%; P < .05), paid for their own healthcare (23.4% vs 11.2%; P < .05), and used private hospitals for healthcare services (40.2% vs 17.8%; P < .05). Thai workers had significantly better levels of knowledge and attitude (P < .001). However, immigrant workers were found to have better levels of reproductive health behavior (70.1% vs 68.2%), especially in terms of the number of sexual partners, and a good level of pregnancy-related reproductive behavior (97.4% vs 84.3%), particularly in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months or more.


Conclusions: Thai workers had more knowledge, attitude, and behavior of reproductive health than immigrant workers, despite their better attitude and behavior in terms of the number of sexual partners and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding 6 months or more.


 

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Khamthanet R, Suthutvoravut S. Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Reproductive Health Between Thai and Immigrant Women Workers in Factories in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. Rama Med J [Internet]. 2020 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];43(1):24-3. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ramajournal/article/view/238367
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Original Articles

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