Factors Influencing Preventive Behavior on Coronavirus Disease 2019 among Myanmar Migrants Workers in Factories at High Incidence Rate of Border Areas Tak Province

Abstract

     The rapid spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was partly due to transmission among workers in industrial settings, especially among Myanmar migrant workers. This descriptive research aimed to study the factors influencing preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among Myanmar workers in factories located in Mae Tao Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. The sample consisted of 350 workers aged 20 years and above, selected through multi-stage random sampling. Data was collected using an interview questionnaire with reliability coefficients ranging from 0.78 to 0.99.

     The results showed that the participants had an average age of 26.01 years (SD = 4.46), and 69.7% exhibited a high level of preventive behavior. Statistically significant factors influencing preventive behaviors included the isolation of patients and contacts within the factory (Beta = 0.492, p<0.001), receiving guidance from the factory (Beta = 0.262, p<0.001), the factory environment (Beta = 0.248, p<0.001), and the provision of protective equipment (Beta = -0.079, p<0.001), respectively. These factors could collectively predict preventive behavior at 76.3% (Adjusted R² = 0.763).

     We recommend that authorities should have a plan to promote self-protection behaviors for workers consist of measures to separate patients and contacts, support for protective equipment, forms of advice on prevention, and creating an environment that supports workers to behave correctly.