EFFECTIVENESS OF A HEALTH BELIEF MODEL-BASED PROGRAM ON PERCEPTIONS AND LEAD EXPOSURE PREVENTION BEHAVIORS AMONG AUTO REPAIR WORKERS IN MUEANG DISTRICT, AMNAT CHAROEN PROVINCE
Keywords:
Lead poisoning, Perception, Exposure prevention behaviors , Health promotion program , Health Belief ModelAbstract
Lead poisoning remains a significant occupational health problem, particularly among auto repair workers who are at risk of lead exposure during routine work activities. Insufficient perceptions of lead poisoning and inappropriate lead exposure prevention behaviors may increase the risk of lead absorption into the body. This quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre–post design aimed to examine the effects of a health promotion program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on perceptions of lead poisoning and lead exposure prevention behaviors among auto repair workers in Mueang District, Amnat Charoen Province. The participants were 46 workers selected through cluster sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires assessing perceptions of lead poisoning and behaviors related to lead exposure. The 12-week health promotion program consisted of health education, practical training, online communication, and follow-up activities. Data were analyzed using descriptive and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. The results showed that perceptions of lead poisoning after the intervention was significantly higher than before the intervention (p < 0.001). Likewise, important prevention behaviors, including appropriate use of personal protective equipment, handwashing after work, changing clothes after work, and avoiding eating in work areas, significantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that the Health Belief Model-based health promotion program was effective in perceptions of lead poisoning and improving lead exposure prevention behaviors among auto repair workers. Therefore, public health agencies and auto repair workplaces should implement this program continuously and support the use of personal protective equipment, provide separate eating areas from workspaces, and ensure adequate handwashing facilities to reduce the risk of lead exposure and promote workers’ health in the long term.
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