FACTORS RELATED TO ORAL HEALTH CARE BEHAVIOR OF VILLAGE HEALTH VOLUNTEER IN BANKLANG SUB-DISTRICT, LOMSAK DISTRICT, PHETCHABUN PROVINCE

Abstract

Abstract

This study employed a survey research design with the objective of examining the factors associated with oral health care behaviors among village health volunteers (VHVs). The study sample comprised 196 VHVs from Banklang Subdistrict, Lom Sak District, Phetchabun Province. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was validated for content by experts and demonstrated a reliability coefficient of 0.76. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with the statistical significance level set at 0.05.

The results revealed that the majority of VHVs possessed a moderate level of knowledge regarding oral health care (50.50%), a moderate level of attitude toward oral health care (58.70%), and a moderate level of oral health care behavior (65.30%). Factors found to be significantly associated with oral health care behavior included age (r = 0.167, p-value = 0.020) and knowledge regarding oral health care (r = 0.206, p-value = 0.004).

Therefore, it is recommended that public health personnel continuously enhance VHVs’ knowledge of oral health care. Improving their knowledge may contribute to the adoption of more appropriate oral health care behaviors.

Keywords: Oral health care behaviors, Knowledge, Attitudes, Village Health Volunteers