Factors Related to the Behavior of Using Herb for Self-Care of People in Prachinburi Province in the Pandemic Situation of Coronavirus Disease 2019

Abstract

Recently, around the world and Thailand have faced the problem of the Coronavirus Disease 2019, continuously. This has impacted on people’s health for a long-time and more for self-care behavior learning. This survey research aims to assess the behaviors of herb using for self-care among people during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and the relationships between behaviors and associated factors in Prachinburi province.  The samples of 400 participants were using a Multi-stage Sampling method.  The study questionnaires related to relationships between factors and the behaviors of herb using for self-care were verified the content for validity and reliability by the Cronbach’s alpha method (confidence coefficient= 0.923). The data were collected during January - April 2022. This data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results showed that the most people had the behaviors of herbs using at a low level in both pre- and post- infection periods and at a moderate level in the infection period. For personal factor, the education level was statistically significant correlated with behaviors at the 0.05 level. For predisposing factor, educational levels were correlated negatively with behaviors at a low level. The attitude and perceived benefits were significantly positive correlated with behaviors at a low level (p < 0.001). For enabling factors, the herbal accessible, price and sales promotion were positively correlated with behaviors at a low level. For reinforcing factors, information receiving from personal media and mass media were positively correlated with behaviors at a low level (p < 0.001). We suggest for long-term sustainability to promote and educate in self-care for herbal uses for Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic.