Factors Associated with Influenza Prevention Behaviors among Older Adults in Nabon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the levels of knowledge, perception, and prevention and control behaviors regarding influenza among elderly people, as well as to investigate factors associated with influenza prevention behaviors among elderly people in Na Bon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. This descriptive research employed a cross-sectional survey method. The sample consisted of 258 elderly people aged 65-69 years who had lived in Na Bon District for more than 5 years, selected through purposive sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire developed by the researcher based on literature review and related research, applying the Health Belief Model as a conceptual framework. The questionnaire comprised 5 sections: personal information, knowledge about influenza, perception of influenza, and influenza prevention and control behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's Correlation.

The results revealed that elderly people had good levels of knowledge about influenza (56.98%), good levels of perception of influenza (57.75%), and good levels of influenza prevention and control behaviors (72.87%). Correlation analysis showed that age was not significantly correlated with influenza prevention behaviors (r = -0.005, p-value = 0.942), while knowledge about influenza (r = 0.248, p-value < 0.001) and perception of influenza (r = 0.153, p-value = 0.014) were positively correlated with influenza prevention behaviors at a statistically significant level. The research findings demonstrate that promoting knowledge and perception about influenza is an important strategy for enhancing disease prevention behaviors among elderly people. Therefore, public health agencies should develop programs to continuously promote knowledge and perception, using the Health Belief Model as a guideline for activity development.