Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Risk Populations towards Malaria Prevention in the Bann Chongmafuang, Moo 12, Nong Ri Sub-district, Mueang District, Chonburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

Malaria continues to pose a significant threat to public health in Thailand, with its prevalence observed across various parts of the country. It has been found that malaria is prevalent in areas previously considered malaria-free for more than 20 years. The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to study the relationship between personal factors, knowledge, attitudes about malaria, and malaria prevention behaviors of the people at Ban Chongmafueng, Moo 12, Nong Ri Sub-district, Mueang District, Chonburi Province. The study was conducted from January 2023 to July 2023. The sample group consisted of 205 risk populations selected through purposive sampling based on specific criteria. All population aged 15 years and over resided within a 2-kilometer radius of malaria patients' homes. The tool utilized in the research was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and correlation was tested using chi-square statistics. The findings indicated that the sample group showed a relatively high level of knowledge, with 42.44% of the respondents having an average of 10.89 points (S.D. = 2.67). On the other hand, their attitude toward preventing malaria was at a medium level with an average of 38.46 points (S.D. = 4.86), which was 58.05% of the respondents. In terms of their behavior to prevent malaria, the respondents had a moderate level with an average of 24.25 points (S.D. = 6.07), which was 54.15% of the respondents. Factors that influenced malaria prevention behaviors included education level, occupation, mosquito net usage, and knowledge of malaria. There was a statistically significant correlation with malaria prevention behavior at P-value < 0.05. Factors including sex, age, and illness of malaria influenced malaria prevention behaviors; however, they are not statistically significant correlations (p-value > 0.05). Therefore, health literacy should be promoted to raise public awareness of the dangers of malaria. The behavior change in malaria prevention and control should consider the intervention at individual, household, and community levels, leading to sustainability in public health.