Factors Influencing Rabies Prevention Behaviors among Village Health Volunteers in Surin Province
Keywords:
Rabies, Rabies Prevention Behavior, Village Health VolunteersAbstract
This descriptive correlational research aimed to examine behaviors and factors influencing rabies prevention behaviors among 414 village health volunteers (VHVs), selected through stratified random sampling in Surin Province. The research instruments consisted of 1) a knowledge questionnaire on rabies prevention (item-objective congruence values ranging from .67 to 1.00 and a KR-20 reliability coefficient of .91), 2) an attitude questionnaire toward rabies prevention (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .94), and 3) a rabies prevention behavior questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .96). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results showed as follows.
1. Overall, VHVs in Surin Province demonstrated a high level of rabies prevention behaviors (M = 4.12, SD = 0.51).
2. Factors influencing rabies prevention behaviors included knowledge about rabies prevention (Beta = .374) and attitudes toward rabies prevention (Beta = .201). These two variables significantly explained 20.4% of the variance in rabies prevention behaviors (adjR² = .204, p-value < .001).
The findings suggest that subdistrict health-promoting hospitals should provide continuous support to enhance knowledge of rabies prevention, foster positive attitudes, and raise awareness of the severity of rabies.
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