Knowledge, Attitude, and Health Behaviors and Obesity of Students in Muang District, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

       The purposes of this research were 1) to study knowledge, attitude, and health behaviors and obesity of students in Muang district, Phitsanulok province and 2) to investigate the association between knowledge, attitude, health behaviors, and body mass index (BMI) of students in Muang district, Phitsanulok province. Two hundred and twenty-four healthy students aged 8-12 years were used in this study. The samples, selected by purposive sampling, were elementary and secondary school students in government and private sector school, in Muang district, Phitsanulok province. A set of questionnaires was used as a surveying tool. The Item Congruence Index was 0.67 - 1.00 and the value of Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.72. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient.

       The results showed that there were 14.29 and 85.71 percentage of overweight and obesity students, respectively. The average scores for knowledge about obesity was low level (5.24 ± 1.72), attitude on obesity was not good level (2.30 ± 0.99), and health behaviors was in lower practice (2.42 ± 0.96). Notably, knowledge (r = -.18, p<0.01) and health behaviors (r = -.14, p<0.05) had significantly negative associated with BMI. However, there was no apparent association between attitude and BMI (r = -.01, p>0.05). In conclusion, incorrect knowledge about obesity and inappropriate health behaviors were related to high level of BMI which represents obesity in students. Hence, providing of health-related theoretical knowledge and practice should be encouraged in elementary and secondary school students to improve health behaviors.