Factors associated with the Antibiotic Usage Behavior of the Village Health Volunteers in Ron Phibun District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey study aimed to study the factors related to antibiotic use behavior of village health volunteers (VHVs) in Ron Phibun District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The sample consisted of 328 VHVs. The simple random  sampling method was used. The instruments used were questionnaires with IOC values ​​between 0.67 and 1.00. The knowledge questionnaire had a KR-20 value of 0.74. The attitude and antibiotic use behavior questionnaire was used. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.70 and 0.82. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multiple logistic regression.

The results of the study found that most of the sample had low knowledge (53.35%) and high and moderate attitudes (50.00%). The most conducive factors for receiving antibiotics were government hospitals (36.3%) and received information from the Internet and public health officers (36.3%) and 35.4% respectively. The most supportive factors were public health officers (45.1%). Most antibiotic use behaviors were appropriate (53.4%). Factors related to antibiotic use behaviors were education level, marital status, occupation, income, knowledge, attitude, supporting factors, and supporting factors.

Therefore, public health officers should organize a training program on the rational use of antibiotics for village health volunteers to be leaders in the correct use of drugs and create a good attitude for village health volunteers