Abstract
This research involved a descriptive study, the objectives of which were to assess
the knowledge of and the level of preventive behaviors for avian influenza (bird flu),
including the comparative avian flu prevention behaviors of district public health volunteers
in Phakhai District, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, as categorized by sex, age, educational background, level of knowledge, work experience as district public health
volunteers, and relationship between poultry and one’s residence. The samples comprised
265 district public health volunteers. The instrument used for data collection was
a questionnaire verified for content validity and reliability. Data were collected in August
2007. Descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test, F-test) were used for analysis. Most
of district public health volunteers were female (83.4%), aged between 50 and 59 (37.4%),
who had compleated primary school (68.3%), with 5-15 years of experience as district
public health volunteers (60%), not involved in poultry business (87.5%), and resided in a
non-risk area (93.6%). The sample for the most part had a high level of knowledge about
avian influenza (80%). The prevention behaviors for avian flu were at a moderate level
(58.9%). The comparison of preventive behaviors for avian influenza demonstrated that
the sex of the district public health volunteers was not related to preventive behavior,
while age, educational background, level of knowledge, work experience of district public
health volunteers, relationship between poultry and their residence, did affect the prevention
behavior for avian flu at the 0.05 level of statistical significance.
Suggestions for this study were that public health and livestock officers should provide
intensive learning programs for district public health volunteers so that they could
improve their prior incorrect practices by regularly imparting knowledge about avian
influenza to people in every area, encouraging people to understand the present situation.
It was also necessary to study problems and operational requirements in order to
apply the findings of the study report for potential development.
