Guardian’s protective behaviors towards respirable particulate matter exposure among children in a public primary school in Samut Prakan province

Authors

  • Pitchanan Kajonpet Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University
  • Arthit Phosri Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology
  • Natnaree Aimyong Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University
  • Tanasri Sihabut Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2022.34

Keywords:

particulate matter, primary school, children, knowledge, attitude, behavior

Abstract

This cross-sectional research aimed to study guardians’ knowledge, attitudes and protective behaviors towards respirable particulate exposure among children in a public primary school located in Pak Nam Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan Province. Additionally, factors associated with their behaviors were explored. To conduct the study, data from 122 Prathom 1-6 children’s guardians were collected using questionnaires and then expressed as frequency, percentage and mean. The associations between variables were quantified using either Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. The results showed that although 52.50% (95% CI: 43.57-61.43) of the respondents had good knowledge levels and 43.44% (95% CI: 34.64-52.24) had good attitude levels, only 27.00% (95% CI: 19.12-34.88) of the respondents exhibited good protective behaviors. These resulted from improper practices in irregularly checking the ambient air monitoring report, allowing children to perform activities outdoors during particulate matter episodes and selecting unsuitable personal protective equipment for their children. Considering variable associations, children’s sex, guardian’s education level and attitudes were significantly associated with protective practices (p<0.05).Therefore, increasing guardian’s awareness towards the harmful effects from ambient particulate exposure and use of unsuitable mask, as well as creating easily accessible social media platforms for reporting air quality, probably under school operations, are required to reduce the children’s risk to respirable particulate exposure.

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Published

2022-06-29

How to Cite

1.
Kajonpet P, Phosri A, Aimyong N, Sihabut T. Guardian’s protective behaviors towards respirable particulate matter exposure among children in a public primary school in Samut Prakan province. Dis Control J [Internet]. 2022 Jun. 29 [cited 2024 Apr. 25];48(2):404-1. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/DCJ/article/view/249406

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 2 (2022): April-June

Section

Original Article

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