Factors Related to Prevention Behavior Regarding Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) Exposure Among Village Health Volunteers in Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to study either selected factors related to prevention behavior regarding particulate matter 2.5 exposure among village health volunteers in Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province. The population consisted of 1,103 village health volunteers  in Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province.  The sample size was calculated using Daniel’s formula, for 306 cases, and was selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 3 parts including, personal characteristics, environmental health literacy, and preventive behaviors against PM2.5 exposure. The questionnaire was validated for content validity by 3 experts and was pilot tested to assess reliability using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which was 0.876. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results showed that factors significantly associated with preventive behaviors against PM2.5 exposure included environmental health literacy (r = 0.434, p-value < 0.001), understanding of environmental health information (r = 0.394, p-value < 0.001), access to environmental health information (r = 0.386, p-value < 0.001), decision-making in protecting oneself from PM2.5 exposure (r = 0.353, p-value < 0.001), and evaluation of environmental health information (r = 0.309, p-value < 0.001), respectively.