Factors Affecting Household Infectious Waste Management Behaviors of People in Sawankhalok District, Sukhothai Province

Abstract

This research aimed to explore (1) predisposing factors, enabling factors, reinforcing factors and household infectious waste management behaviors, and (2) factors affecting household infectious waste management behaviors of the people in Sawankhalok District, Sukhothai Province.This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in a sample of 728 people selected using two-stage sampling. Data were collected in September 2022, and then analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.The results showed that, among the study participants: (1) concerning household infectious waste and its management, the levels of knowledge, attitudes, perceived benefits and perceived barriers were high, good, high and low, respectively; the levels of enabling factors (support system and access to the system of local administrative organizations) were low; the levels of reinforcing factors (perceived information and social support) were low; and the level of behaviors was fair, and (2) the factors affecting the people’s household infectious waste management behaviors were age, education level, financial status, history of illnesses with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, and attitudes, management support system as well as social support for such management; all of which could 20.0% predict household infectious waste management behaviors.