Factors related to preventive behaviors among parent caregivers of children under five years with acute respiratory tract infection in Myanmar

Abstract

Factors related to preventive behaviors among parent caregivers of children under five years with acute respiratory tract infection in Myanmar Sandi Thaw1,2, Sermsri Santati1*, Renu Pookboonmee1 1. Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand 2. Maternal and Child Health Nursing Department, University of Nursing, Mandalay 05032, Myanmar *E-mail: sermsris@hotmail.com Abstract Background: Acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) is the second-leading cause of death worldwide among children, especially among those aged <5 years. Thus, it is imperative to understand parent caregivers’ perception of ARI and their preventive behaviors. Methods: This descriptive correlation study included 116 parent caregivers at an out-patient department of a 550-bedded Children Hospital, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The correlation between preventive behaviors and parent caregivers’ perception on ARI was measured using Becker’s Health Belief Model-based questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and spearmen’s rank-order collection test were used for data analysis. Results: Our results revealed that parent caregivers’ perception was at a moderate level, and preventive behaviors among parent caregivers were at a poor level during wellness and sickness conditions. The average score of the parent caregivers’ preventive behaviors in ARI was 23.57 ± 3.22). Significant positive relationships were noted between perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and cues to action and preventive behaviors of parent caregivers (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The results supported the health belief model: Health care personnel should provide a theory-based health education program toward improving the parent caregivers’ preventive behaviors with ARI children. Keywords: behaviors; caregivers; preventive; respiratory tract infection