Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Relating to Fire Prevention among Students in the Elementary Schools of Muang Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Abstract

In 2010, the department of disaster prevention and mitigation, Thailand reported that during 2006 – 2010 the statistics of fire in temples, schools and offices was increasing every year. Only in 2010, there was 80 cases. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the students in thirty two elementary schools toward fire prevention. Verbal consent was taken from the students who were willing to participate in the study. Six hundred and thirty students were 359 female, 266 male and 5 not identified. The mean of age of the studied subjects was 11.09±1.07 and ranged from 6 to 13 years. These students completed questionnaire which was designed by the researchers and evaluated by the institute members of occupational health and safety department. The content validity of item-objective congruence index (IOC) is 0.83 which means the consistent questions with the objectives. The collection data were analyzed by 2-independent samples test and Pearson Chi-square (p<0.05). The results indicated that no gender differences were with the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices (p=0.072, 0.149 and 0.235 respectively) and the Pearson chi-square showed that the level of knowledge, attitudes was not associated with practices (p=0.256 and 0.572 respectively). The finding also revealed that the students who had not been trained in fire evacuation had more inappropriate behavior or practice and poorer attitude toward fire than those had the experience. Strategy planning to improve attitudes and practices through proper training for fire evacuation among students are needed.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p288