Abstract:
Hand-Foot-and-Mouth disease in private kindergarten, Bangkok is a major problem and has affected the well-being of children. This cross-sectional research investigated the factors influencing the prevention and control of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Bangkok. One hundred fifty private kindergartens in Bangkok area under the Office of the Private Education Commission, were collected from February to March 2019. The respondents (teacher, administrators, nurses, etc.) answered self-administered questionnaires and the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and Chi-square test. The results revealed that the highest range of age of participants was 30-39 years old (32.7%), majority female (82.0%) and male (18.0%). Almost of the respondents were teachers (52.4%), Private kindergartens had a very good score (72.0%) in the prevention and control of hand-foot-and mouth disease. The factors related to the prevention and control of hand-foot-and-mouth disease were educational background (p=0.038), opportunity to increase knowledge (p<0.001), knowledge of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (p<0.001), risk perception (p<0.001), perception of danger or violence (p=0.002), perception of benefits (p=0.002), determination of the primary responsible person in the organizational structure (p<0.001), obtaining knowledge support materials and equipment from public health staff (p<0.001, p<0.001), participation of parents and communities, (p<0.001, p<0.001) and campaign or public relations via mass media (p<0.001) It is recommended that prevention and control of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in private kindergartens must be the primary concern of the public health officials or related agencies, and awareness and risk of hand-foot-and-mouth disease should be promoted. Also, school leaders must administer prevention and control of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and must approach the proper authority responsible for prevention and control of hand-foot-and-mouth disease.