Relationship between the Raw Fish Consumption Behavior of Nutritional Gatekeepers and their Own Household Members in Sakae Subdistrict, Buriram Province

Abstract

The Liver fluke disease caused by Opisthorchis viverrini remains a major public health problem in the world. The study found that approximately infected 40 million people and about 600 million people, risk of infection (Kotawong et al., 2015). In Asia, found about infected 8-10 million people especially in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia (Hughes et al., 2017). About Thailand, estimated that 10 percent of people or 6 million people are infected with liver fluke. The Raw fish is a favorite dish for thai people in the northeast of Thailand, has the highest liver fluke infection rate in the country, highest rate of Cholangiocarcinoma in the world, a serious liver cancer. In the year 2016, the liver fluke infection screening results of Buriram Provincial Public Health Office, in five districts around the Chi River basin, found, the liver fluke infection rate is 1.30 percent and more important found the highest infection rate in 968 people of Sakae Subdistrict, Satuek District, detected 163 people had fluke liver infections is 16.83 percent of their population, the highest infection rate in the province. (Data Management and Statistical Analysis Center, 2016). A cross-sectional analytical study aims to study the relationship between raw fish consumption behavior of nutritional gatekeeper and their family members and to find the relationship of knowledge, attitude and raw fish consumption of the nutritional gatekeeper on the raw fish consumption of their household members in Sakae Sub-district of Buriram province, lived between April and May 2018, 120 households are number of sample. Data analysis was used a frequency, percentage and a mixed effect model statistics at the significance level 0.05 to test the relationship.The results of study were found, 80.83 % of the major households were single family, the Gatekeepers were housewives, 82.50% of them age between 25-59 years old, 73.33% of them had graduated a primary school, 75.83 % of them were agriculturist, 74.17% of them were married and still lived together, 74.17% of the Gatekeepers had a high level knowledge about a liver fluke infection and 88.33% had positive attitudes towards liver flukes. On the other hands, the result of study found that raw fish consumption was still in a high level, 94.12% of the gatekeepers. The most popular raw food was minnows in papaya salad, was 57.17% and 52.50% of raw fish were pickled fish. Moreover, found that ages and status of members in families was not related to raw fish consumption behaviors of the Gatekeepers (p-value=0.94). A knowledge and Attitudes of the Gatekeepers was not related to raw fish consumption behaviors of the members in the families (p-value=0.10). However, the raw fish consumption behaviors of the Gatekeepers were related to the raw fish consumption behaviors of the members (p-value=0.001). The popular menu were fermented fish, pickled fish, other preserved raw fish, spicy minced raw fish salad, raw fish, raw minnows in papaya salad had a relation between the
Gatekeepers and the members in the families (p-value=0.001).

Conclusion of study are a knowledge and attitudes of the nutritional Gatekeepers was not related to raw fish consumption behaviors of the members in the families but the raw fish consumption behaviors of the gatekeepers were related to the raw fish consumption behaviors of the members, may present that another factors influence to raw fish consumption behaviors of all members in the families, more that a knowledge and attitude about a liver fluke disease of the nutritional Gatekeepers. Further study recommended a researcher should find other influencers on raw fish consumption of nutritional Gatekeepers whom test a knowledge and attitude about a liver fluke disease towards their raw fish consumption. The Healthcare worker must organize a cooking activities from freshwater fish to be cooked and based on the principle of nutrition. Limitation is a household member was not try out a knowledge and attitude about a liver fluke disease towards their raw fish consumption. researcher should seek a factor, lead a Gatekeeper to have an attitude towards raw fish consumption and study may find a relation between a gatekeeper to one household member about raw fish consumption.