Evaluation of Health Media and Public Relations in Prevention and Control of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever in Thailand
Tawadchai Suppadit1*, Pukkapong Poungsuk2,
Wisakha Phoochinda1 and Achara Taweesarn1
1The Graduate Program in Environmental Management, School of Social and Environmental Development, National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkapi, Bangkok, Thailand
2Department of Agricultural Education, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailands
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the existing public relations and information program on Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Thailand, and analyzes factors affecting the behavior on prevention and control of DHF. Using questionnaires, data were collected in sample provinces and districts of Bangkok with high and low DHF incidences. In each province, multistage random sampling was done on 65 persons for one municipality and one sub-district, and in districts of Bangkok for a total of 1,170. Results indicate that people received information on DHF through media e.g. television, radio, public health officers and volunteers, and public information campaign, which had significant influence on the knowledge and understanding of prevention and control of the disease in areas with high and low DHF incidence (p<0.05). But knowledge and understanding had significant influence on prevention and control practices only in areas with high DHF incidence (p<0.05). In addition, the information received had significant influence on prevention and control practices in areas with low DHF incidence (p<0.05) but not in areas with high DHF incidence (p>0.05). DHF prevention and control practices are better in areas with low DHF incidence than in areas with high DHF incidence with significant difference (p<0.05). Information received also significantly affected practices in DHF prevention and control (p<0.05) in urban (municipality) and rural (Tambol Administration Organization, TAO) areas and the districts of Bangkok. People in rural areas had better behavior than those in other areas in preventing and controlling the disease because they received information through direct channels e.g. public health volunteers. Thus, integrating mass and direct media could help to disseminate information on DHF prevention and control practices better than using mass media alone.
INTRODUCTION
Presently, the mosquito-borne disease is a problem in many places and its treatment seems more complex (Rozendaal 1997). Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) has been occuring in Thailand for a long time. The number of. . . . .
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