Factors affecting food safety consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic among students aged 15-18 years old in Thailand

Abstract: Background: COVID-19 as an emerging disease, has spread around the globe quickly with many lives being affected. People ‘s lifestyles were inevitably forced to change to prevent the disease. Food safety consumption behavior is one factor to protect themselves from COVID-19. Objective: To study factors associated with food safety consumption behavior Methods: An online questionnaire to measure knowledge about food safety consumption during the pandemic of COVID-19. Result: A total of 309 students participated in this study and they were assessed knowledge about food safety and COVID-19 prevention and food safety consumption practice during COVID-19. The majority of participants were female (n=192, 62.1%). Most participants studied Grade 11 (n=122, 39.5). 29.08% of students whose parents worked as an employee followed by whose parents worked as a business owner (n=84, 27.20%). 77.3% (n=239) of participants ordered food delivery less than 3 times a week. Most participants (n=154, 49.80%) bought foods for themselves 1-2 meals per day. Participants reported a good level of knowledge about food safety and COVID-19 prevention (M=8.24, SD=1.56) as well as a good level of food safety practice during COVID-19 (M=53.01, SD=7.49). Gender (Beta =0.15, p<0.01) and Food safety knowledge (Beta=0.143, p