Preventive Behaviors and Influencing Factors among Thai Residents in Endemic Areas during the Highest Epidemic Peak of the COVID-19 Outbreak

Weerawat Ounsaneha, Orapin Laosee, Thunwadee Tachapattaworakul Suksaroj and Cheerawit Rattanapan ()
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Weerawat Ounsaneha: Faculty of Science and Technology, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage, Klong Nuang, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 13180, Thailand
Orapin Laosee: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73710, Thailand
Thunwadee Tachapattaworakul Suksaroj: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73710, Thailand
Cheerawit Rattanapan: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73710, Thailand

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: This research aims to investigate COVID-19 preventive behavior and influencing factors among Thai residents during the highest epidemic peak of COVID-19. Nine hundred and forty-six residents in five districts with high COVID-19 infection cases in Thailand were systematically included in this cross-sectional survey. The results showed that 87.2% and 65.2% of the residents had a high level of general knowledge and preventive measures, respectively. As to COVID-19 attitudes, poor levels of attitude among Thai residents were found in risk perception (53.6%) and mistrust issues (70.4%). Moreover, this study presents good preventive behavior (77.0%) among Thai residents. Multiple logistic regression showed that the influence factors of COVID-19 preventive behavior were the young age group (AOR 2.97, 95% CI 1.68–5.25), high income (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.03–1.86), and high level of general COVID-19 knowledge (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.64–2.96). The conclusion was that providing information on COVID-19 via social media was the key mechanism of policy action for increasing the level of COVID-19 preventive behavior during the highest epidemic peak in Thailand. In addition, the pandemic preparedness and response policy, with resident participation and involvement, could be recommended for the resilience of pandemic preparedness.

Keywords: preventive behavior; Thai residents; epidemic peak; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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