Parental Behaviors in Preventing Pneumonia among Young Children under 5 Years Old in Bangkok

Abstract

The incidence of pneumonia in young children remains a significant problem that imposes a financial burden on families and the healthcare system. This study aimed to investigate pneumonia prevention behaviors among parents of children under 5 years old in Bangkok. A cross-sectional study design was employed. The sample consisted of 424 parents of children under 5 years old living in Bangkok. The research instruments included a demographic questionnaire, a knowledge questionnaire regarding pneumonia and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and a pneumonia prevention behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. The results revealed that the majority of the participants (85.10%) demonstrated a good level of pneumonia prevention behaviors, while 53.30% had a fair level of knowledge regarding pneumonia and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Three factors were significantly associated with good pneumonia prevention behaviors (p < 0.05): having a bachelor's degree or higher compared with below a bachelor's degree (Adjusted OR = 4.04, 95% CI: 1.91–8.54), having a good level of knowledge compared with a fair level (Adjusted OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.19–3.96), and the presence of underlying diseases in children compared with the absence of underlying diseases (Adjusted OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21–0.92). Therefore, educating parents may help promote pneumonia prevention behaviors among young children, such as maintaining proper hygiene and nutrition, avoiding crowded areas and contact with individuals with respiratory illnesses, and protecting children from cigarette smoke exposure. Targeted educational interventions may be beneficial for improving parents’ pneumonia prevention behaviors.