Abstract:
This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the factors that affecting Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) preventive behaviors among cat owners in Sriracha district, Chonburi province. A total of 400 volunteers were selected through a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected from respondents through structured questionnaire in face-to-face interviews between June, 2016 to July, 2017, and were analyzed via descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. It was found that most respondents had a poor level of CSD preventive behaviors (65.5%), a poor level of knowledge (83.0%), and a less supporting attitude (90.0%) about CSD. Most of them had a good level of accessibility to resources and services (66.8%). Most respondents had a fair level of accessibility to information about CSD from media sources (76.0%), a poor level from public health workers (58.0%), and a poor level from family/friends/colleagues/neighbors (88.0%). Factors correlating significantly to CSD preventive behaviors were marital status, educational attainment, occupation, total household income per month, knowledge, accessibility to resources and services, and accessibility to information from media sources, public health workers, family/friends/colleagues/neighbors. The three significant predictors of CSD preventive behaviors included knowledge, accessibility to resources and services, and accessibility to information from media sources. Interestingly, these predictors accounted for 21.5% of the variance in CSD preventive behaviors. These findings suggest that, improvement of preventive behaviors among cat owners should be promoted by focusing on their knowledge, access to resources and services, including increased communication effectiveness, in order to build awareness of the risk of zoonoses.