Preventive and control behaviors against dengue [haemorrhagic] fever among primary school children in Chulaporn District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

The prevalence of DHF is still high among primary school children, the diseasecan be detrimental to them. The objectives of this cross- sectional survey research wereto identify the preventive and control behaviors against Dengue Haemorrhagic Feveramong primary school children and the association between predisposing factor (gradelevel, gender, knowledge, attitude), enabling factors (parent's income, the sufficiency ofthe resource for prevention and control DHF), reinforcing factors (social support fromteachers, parents) and preventive and control behaviors against DHF.The samples consisted of 407 primary school children grade 4th - 6th in schoolsof the Department of Primary Schools, Chulaporn District, Nakhon Si ThammaratProvince. The data were collected by self - administered questionnaires during July14th-29th, 2003. Statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean, standarddeviation, and t - test, One-way ANOVA and Pearson’s product moment correlation.The results showed that 47.9% of samples had good level of preventive andcontrol behaviors against DHF. Preventive and control behaviors that had beencorrectly practiced were cleaning area around the house (84.3%), followed byobserving and eliminating mosquito larvae in water container in the bathroom at home(82.0%), and observing and eliminating mosquito larvae in drinking and utility jar athome (80.3%). The less common proper practices were sleeping under mosquito nets(30.7%), followed by using mosquito repellent or herbal medicine to prevent mosquitobite (49.4%) and covering water container after use (every time) at home (53.1%)Factors statistically and positively correlated with preventive and controlbehaviors (p<.05) were age, knowledge about DHF, attitude toward DHF, socialsupport form teachers, social support from parents, and the significant difference ofmean scores of preventive and control behaviors(p<.05) were grade level, thesufficiency of resource for preventive and control of DHF.It is recommended that content of education program to control or eliminatelarvae and breeding site, involve physical, biological, and chemical methods, especiallyknowledge about abate sand. Health personnel, parents, teachers and relevantgovernment Ministries should continually promote preventive and control behaviorsagainst DHF among primary school children by providing knowledge and informationabout DHF, maintaining proper attitude and support adequate and continuous resources.