Knowledge and Preventive Behavior For 2009 Influenza (H1N1) of the Students at Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration School

Abstract

           In this survey research investigation, the researcher examines the knowledge of and the preventive behavior for influenza in comparison with the knowledge of and preventive behavior for the 2009 influenza (H1N1) of the students at Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration School classified by gender, year of study, parents’ educational level, and parents’ occupation. The researcher determines the relationship between the knowledge of the prevention for the 2009 influenza (H1N1) and the preventive behavior for the 2009 influenza (H1N1).
          The sample population consisted of 253 students. The research instrument was a three-part questionnaire: personal characteristics of students, a knowledge test, and disease preventive behavior. Data were analyzed using mean (M) and standard deviation (SD). The techniques of t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient were also employed.
          Findings are as follows:
          1. The students under study exhibited the knowledge for the prevention of the 2009 influenza (H1N1) overall at a moderate level.
          2. The students under investigation exhibited preventive behavior for the 2009 influenza (H1N1) at a high level.
          3. The students under study who differed in gender and year of study exhibited differences in the knowledge for the prevention of the 2009 influenza (H1N1) at the statistically significant level of .05 Differences in parents’ educational level and parents’ occupation exhibited no differences in the knowledge of and the preventive behavior for the 2009 influenza (H1N1) at the statistically significant level of .05.
           4. The knowledge of the prevention of the 2009 influenza (H1N1) directly correlated with the preventive behavior for the 2009 influenza (H1N1) at the statistically significant level of 05.