Changes of Students' Health Behaviors in the H1N1 Flu Pandemic

Background: The purposes of this study were to examine how students coped with the H1N1 flu pandemic and to investigate variables associated with behavioral change of students. Methods: For these purposes, self-reported questionnaire method was used to 1,642 students (797 boys, 845 girls) during September, 2009. Results: The rate of behavioral changes of sterilizing hands with antiseptic solution after H1N1 flu pandemic was 68.1%, hand washing with soap was 61.2%, drinking a lot of water was 17.5%, avoiding crowded places was 16.5%, balanced regular meal was 15.1%, wearing a mask was 14.7%, sufficient sleep was 13.2%. Behavioral changes occurred when they felt more anxiety (all behaviors. p<0.05) and they had a better knowledge on the H1N1 flu (wearing a mask, avoiding crowded places, balanced regular meal, sufficient sleep. p<0.001), when the students took a fever remedy immediately after having a fever more often (all behaviors excepting sterilizing hands with antiseptic solution. p<0.05), when they got vaccination against seasonal influenza every year(wearing a mask, avoiding crowded places, balanced regular meal, sufficient sleep. p<0.01). Less behavioral changes took place when they had less knowledge and they felt less anxiety on the H1N1, when they scarcely took a fever remedy immediately after having a fever. Conclusions: The plans to provide correct information about the H1N1 for students is required and the persons who in charge of health of school should develop the abilities and the skills to cope with emerging communicable disease.