Assessment of 4th Grade School Students' Rabies Protection Motivation and Preventive Behavior in Chonburi Province, Thailand

Rabies is one of Thailand's most deadly endemic diseases. Young people under 15 are at risk. The Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) has amassed considerable acceptance. This study compared Rabies Protection Motivation (RPM) and Rabies Preventive Behavior (RPB) in fourth-graders in Chonburi province who attend the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) (290 students) and the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) (268 students) schools. The result of the study indicated that students who enrolled in school under the OPEC demonstrated significantly higher levels of RPM (39.22 SD=4.487, P < 0.001) and RPB (16.60 SD=3.889, P < 0.05) compared to students under OBEC. On the other hand, the students in OBEC schools presented lower scores in RPM (37.35 SD=4.923, P < 0.001) and RPB (15.81 SD=3.398, P < 0.05). When examining the components of RPM, it was discovered that students in OPEC schools presented remarkably higher levels of Rabies Perceived Vulnerability (RPV) (9.94 SD=1.560, P < 0.001) and Rabies Self Efficacy (RSE) (10.85 SD=1.426, P < 0.001) compared to students under OBEC (RPV; = 9.38 SD=1.577, P < 0.001, and RSE; = 9.98 SD=1.850, P < 0.001). OBEC and OPEC students need instructional programs to improve Rabies Perceived Severity (RPS). These programs will educate students about rabies and promote students' rabies defenses. Keywords: Rabies, Protection Motivation, Preventive Behavior, 4th grade school Students, Thailand