Knowledge, Health Beliefs and Preventing Behaviors of COVID-19 Among Village Health Volunteers in Cheangpin sub-district, Mueang district, Udonthani Province

Abstract

            This descriptive research aimed to study the knowledge, health beliefs and preventing behaviors of COVID-19 among village health volunteers. The sample consisted of 215 village health volunteers living in Cheangpin sub-district, Mueang district, Udonthani Province. The research instruments comprised the knowledge test of COVID-19 with the reliability of 0.72. The questionnaires of demographic data, health beliefs of COVID-19 with the reliability of 0.81 and behaviors in preventing COVID-19 with the  reliability of 0.92. Data were collected from February to March 2019. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze the data.

            The results found that (1) 61.40% had knowledge about COVID-19 at moderate level, follow by 27.91% and 10.69% at low and good level respectively. (2) The perception and health beliefs, 38.50%  had risk perception of COVID-19 at moderated level and 91.50 % were afraid of disease. Overall health beliefs perception at high level (x̄=3.66, SD=0.26) and (3) Prevention behaviors, over all was at high level (x̄=3.86, SD=0.27). When considered the items found played prevention role was the most (x̄=3.90, SD=0.28) follow by keep physical distancing (x̄=3.85, SD=0.32) and taking care of personal hygiene (x̄=3.84, SD=0.22).

            From the results suggest that provide accurate knowledge about COVID-19 and promote health belief to the participants need to be taken into consideration to reduce the risk and afraid of COVID-19 and continue to improve their health  behaviors to be role model for the villagers and to ensure they can work their role effectively.