Factors Associated with Self-Care Behaviors of the Elderly in Bang Phrom Subdistrict, Bang Khonthi District, Samut Songkhram Province

Abstract

Thailand is transitioning into a complete aged society, and Samut Songkhram province is experiencing a continuous upward trend in the number of elderly individuals. Most of the elderly population faces health issues and a decline in their ability to care for themselves. Consequently, self-care behaviors among the elderly are crucial to their quality of life. This study aims to investigate the relationship between personal characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, perception, and self-care behaviors among the elderly in Bang Phrom subdistrict, Bang Khonthi district, Samut Songkhram province. The sample consisted of 270 elderly individuals. Multi-stage random sampling was used, and data were collected using questionnaires with a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.87. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The findings revealed that personal factors, including age, education level, marital status, occupation, income, source of income, and chronic diseases, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and perception, were significantly associated with self-care behaviors among the elderly (p<0.05). The study's results suggest that promoting health behaviors among the elderly requires consideration of personal factors, coupled with providing accurate knowledge and adjusting attitudes and perceptions. Collaboration from all sectors is necessary to ensure that the elderly adopt desirable health behaviors and enjoy a good quality of life.