Prevention behaviors and related factors on novel influenza of Fifth grade elementary students - Tainan Luying Elementary School

[[abstract]]As international interactions happen more frequently and closely, distances between countries seem to be shortened. The spreading speed and infected areas of contagious diseases continue to increase. We are awakening to the importance and alert of contagious diseases. The present study aimed to understand the prevention behaviors of fifth grade elementary students against novel influenza. It further examined related factors affecting the prevention behaviors against novel influenza. The results of the study show that: The students’ prevention knowledge of novel influenza was more sufficient than the basics; their health beliefs on novel influenza were affirmative and positive. Even though the students were affirmative and positive on prevention behaviors against novel influenza, they were negative on self-providing alcoholic hand cleaner for partial disinfection; and spending more time paying attention to related news about novel influenza. This indicates that parents should spend more time with them and give more attentions. Schools should put efforts on publicity and guidance. The students had correct concepts on prevention of contagious diseases, but were passive on wearing masks outdoors. Schools should put more efforts on publicity. 70% of students, who had injected novel influenza vaccine, got higher scores in cognizing the severity of novel influenza. This showed that families which paid respect to prevention behaviors (include decreasing contact with people who have symptoms of novel influenza), had lower percentage of being infected. Correct prevention behaviors can influence students in families to imitate and follow thoroughly. The more knowledgeable students were, the higher degrees of cognition of pathopoiesia, effectiveness and severity they had; the more positive they were on prevention behaviors against novel influenza. In the concepts of health, the degree of relativity between the cognition of severity and prevention behaviors was the highest; the next highest was the cognition of pathopoiesia, and then the cognition of effectiveness; and the lowest was the cognition of impediment. It shows that obstacles students encountered in the school had less influence than other factors on prevention behaviors. In the implementation of hygiene education, the study suggests that schools should put more efforts on publishing basic knowledge and provide more guidance during novel influenza epidemics. Both teachers and parents should be included in the targeted audiences. Parents should know the importance of epidemic prevention and supervise the health behaviors of students outside schools