KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF DENGUE FEVER PREVENTION AMONG THE VILLAGER OF MOO 2 BAAN KANTAKIAN, MITRAPARB SUBDISTRICT, MUAKLEK DISTRICT, SARABURI PROVINCE, THAILAND

Abstract

This research aims to study level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Dengue Fever (DF) prevention and to identify the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice of Dengue Fever (DF) prevention among the villagers of Moo 2 Baan Kantakian, Mitraparb Subdistrict, Muaklek District, Saraburi Province, Thailand where DF incidence has inclined. 228 respondents were purposely selected from 519 villagers with the mean age of 51 years old. Three questionnaires were used for data collection. Descriptive and Pearson product- moment correlation statistical analyses were employed. The results showed 53.9% of respondents were female, 76.8% were married; 32.0% completed elementary school; 37.3% were employee, and an average income was 18,000.00 Baht/month. Respondents had moderate level of general knowledge about DF. Majority had moderate knowledge about the cause (43.0%) and the life cycle of Aedes aegypti mosquito (53.1%), and high knowledge about transmission risk (93.4%) and the prevention (39.9%). Moreover, majority had a good level of attitude about DF regarding prevention (85.1%) plus concept and practice (69.3%); surely, majority (59.6%) had high level of practice of DF prevention. Evidently, knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practice, and attitude and practice of the respondents were positively correlated to DF prevention at statistically significant level of 0.05 (r = 0.359, p – value = < 0.000, r = 0.258, p – value = 0.000 and r = 0.372, p – value = 0.000 respectively). Recommendation on improving the knowledge and attitude of the DF to the community would be reinforce the practice for DF disease prevention remaining at high level. Meanwhile, further research investigating other factors contributing to high DF epidemic is encouraged.