Abstract: COVID-19, as an emerging disease, has been spreading since December 2019, hundreds of million of people were infected. The transmission route of COVID-19 was made directly between humans through droplet and respiratory secretions and indirectly through contact with contaminated surfaces and can also be transmitted by asymptomatic individuals. Thai people under 18 years old were not included in the first vaccine roll out plan, therefore being strict under COVID-19 measure is crucial to prevent this group of people from COVID-19
Purpose: To assess knowledge about COVID-19, attitude toward preventive behaviors, risk perception of getting COVID-19 and preventive behavior toward COVID-19 among high school students of a private high school in Bangkok.
Methodology: In May-July 2021, all students from a private high school in Bangrak district, Bangkok, Thailand were invited to participate in completing an online questionnaire. A total of 350 students participated. COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes toward COVID-19, risk perception and preventive behaviors were assessed. Differences between outcomes and sociodemographics were analyzed through independent t-tests and the ANOVA. A generalized linear model was calculated to determine the predictive variables of preventive behaviors.
Findings: Students revealed a good level of knowledge about COVID-19 (M=12.27, SD=2.27), a good level of attitudes (M=31.20, SD=3.91), a moderate level of risk perception getting COVID-19 (M=13.66, SD=3.88) and a high level of preventive behavior toward COVID-19 (M=47.35, SD=4.68). A High level of attitudes toward COVID-19 and risk perception of getting COVID-19 were associated with practicing preventive behaviors and that having positive attitudes and a high level of risk perception were main determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors.
Conclusion: This study revealed a good knowledge level about COVID-19 among high school students in Bangkok and indicated positive attitudes toward preventive behaviors, high risk perception and a high behavior adoption of preventive behaviors. Having positive attitudes toward preventive behaviors and high risk perception were main determinants of these behaviors. Thus, this study can provide policy makers with relevant cues to help plan health education programs at schools, promoting preventive behaviors and reducing the spread of COVID-19. Investment in the creation of a health-promoting environment in schools which promotes students’ trust regarding the safety of using public spaces by offering disinfectant gel, regulating the use of masks and organizing the spaces to guarantee the required physical distancing is fundamental to promote behavior adherence.
Keywords: COVID-19, preventive behavior, high school students.
Title: Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Behavior toward COVID-19 among high school students in Bangrak District, Bangkok, Thailand: Cross sectional survey
Author: Pawich Buranarom
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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