Behavior Modification's Impact on Preventing Iron-Deficiency Anemia among Elementary School Students in Mueang Yasothon District, Yasothon Province, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to study the outcomes of a behavior modification program aimed at preventing iron deficiency anemia among primary school students in schools under the jurisdiction of Yasothon Municipality. The sample group consisted of two groups of 50 participants each, comprising an experimental group that received the program and a comparison group that underwent the standard program. Data were collected from both groups twice, before and after the intervention, between October 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024. The data were analyzed using statistical software, with a significance level set at 0.05. The independent t-test was employed to compare mean values between the two independent groups, and the paired t-test was utilized to assess mean differences within the groups. The results indicated that the hemoglobin concentration, knowledge of anemia, attitude towards anemia prevention, participation in anemia prevention, social support for anemia prevention, and iron-deficiency anemia prevention behavior of elementary school students in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the comparison group at the 0.05 significance level. Therefore, the intervention program on iron-deficiency anemia prevention behavior in elementary school students was deemed effective according to the objectives set.