Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Knowledge, Perception, and Preventive Behavior among Secondary School Students in Bangkok
Charnchudhi Chanyasanha MPH, PhD*, Mie Mie Han MD**, Somchai Teetipsatit MD, MPHM***
Affiliation : * Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** World Vision Foundation of Thailand, Ranong, Thailand *** Bangkok Metropolis Health Centre 48, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To explore dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) knowledge, perception, and preventive behavior among secondary
school students in Nong-Kheam, Bangkok, Thailand.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 300 students between 12 and 16 years old
currently attending secondary schools in the Bangkok metropolitan areas using self-administered questionnaires. Data were
subsequently summarized using descriptive statistics.
Results : Only 18.0% of students had a good level of overall knowledge of DHF, but more than half had a good level of
perception of DHF. The results also revealed that only 4.7% of students had a good level of preventive behavior and 75.6%
required improvement.
Conclusion : The levels of knowledge, perception, and preventive behavior were low. Health education programs should be
continued and intensified with emphasis on improving the knowledge of students on prevention and control practices.
Keywords : Preventive behavior, knowledge, perception, dengue, students
