The Perception and Practice of Dengue Fever Prevention Measures among Household Heads in Waritchaphum Subdistrict, Waritchaphum District, Sakon Nakhon Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study the perception and practice with dengue fever prevention measures and to examine the relationship between perception and compliance among household heads in Waritchaphum Subdistrict, Waritchaphum District, Sakon Nakhon Province. A cross-sectional study was employed, with 356 household heads selected as the sample. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM), and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

The findings revealed that overall perception regarding dengue fever was at a high level (Mean=3.63, S.D.=0.37). Specifically, perceived susceptibility (Mean= 3.59, S.D.=0.46), perceived severity (Mean=3.57, S.D.=0.45), perceived benefits (Mean=3.53, S.D.=0.42), and perceived self-efficacy (Mean=3.67, S.D.=0.49) were all at high levels, while perceived barriers were at a moderate level (Mean=2.97, S.D.= 0.62). Preventive practices were found to be at a moderate level overall (Mean=1.98, S.D.=0.60). Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that all aspects of perception were significantly associated with preventive behaviors (p<0.001). Notably, perceived susceptibility (r_s=0.673), perceived severity (r_s=0.674), and perceived benefits (r_s= 0.624) showed a high level of correlation. These results highlight the important role of household heads in dengue fever surveillance and control at the household level and suggest that enhancing health perception may contribute to sustainable community-based disease prevention strategies.