Factors influencing preventive self-care behaviors to avert Diabetes Mellitus among Thai Buddhist Monks, Thailand: A Cross-sectional Study

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate factors related to self-care behavior for diabetes mellitus prevention among 393 Thai Buddhist monks in the upper northeastern region of Thailand. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, minimums, maximums, and standard deviations. Relationships between factors related to self-care behaviors among Buddhist monks were analyzed using bivariate analysis (chi-square test) and multivariate analysis (binary logistic regression). The findings demonstrated that significant factors included age under 35 years (AOR=5.34, 95% CI=2.02-14.14), eating two meals per day (AOR=2.99, 95% CI=1.33-6.76), self-management (AOR=6.51, 95% CI=3.52-12.02), access to health information and health services (AOR=0.26, 95% CI=0.15-0.47), and making correct health decisions (AOR=1.98, 95% CI=1.04-3.78). These factors were significantly related to self-care behaviors among Buddhist monks (p < 0.05). The study concludes that improving health literacy among Thai Buddhist monks, particularly those under 35 years of age, is crucial for effective T2DM prevention. Targeted health education programs can significantly enhance their self-management skills, enable them to make informed health decisions, and encourage the adoption of better self-care and consumption behaviors.