Abstract:
The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to assess health promoting behaviors. Their relationships with demographic characteristics and cognitive-perceptual factors among working age group in congested communities in Municipality of Sara Buri District. The sample of 5 communities were selected using simple random sampling from 9 congested communities giving 400 people aged between 15-59 years old. The data collection was done through interview using structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics--frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics using Chi-square test. The study found that Most of them were female(58%). The mean age was 40.7 years. Most of them had completed elementary school(54.3%)and the occupation to be employed(39.3%). The health promoting behavior was in low level as much as 66.8%. The behavior with moderate level include coping strategies. Behavior with low level was physical exercises or sport. The cognitive-perceptual factors included that the belief and perception, knowledge and attitude were in high level practice. The demographic characteristics including occupation, family income, educational level, body mass index, disease illness and routine annual physical check up were significantly associated with nutrition(P<0.05) The occupational factor was significantly associated with physical exercises. The cognitive-perceptual factors health belief and perception was significantly associated with physical exercises(P<0.001). In conclusion, it is recommended to encourage working age group in congested communities to change their health promoting behaviors on physical exercises or sport and they should have routine annual physical check up depend on the difference of occupation, family income and educational level among the population. In addition, should be taken into health belief and perception to enhance the proper health value and behaviors