ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างความรู้และพฤติกรรมการบริโภคอาหารของชาวลาหู่ ตำบลเมืองนะ อำเภอเชียงดาว จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to study the knowledge and food consumption behavior among the Lahu people residing in the Mueang Na Sub-district of Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. The study sample consisted of 381 Lahu people selected from a population of 3,521 people, determined using Krejcie & Morgan's formula. The data collection involved review literature and a questionnaire specifically designed to assess the knowledge and food consumption behavior of the Lahu people. The content validity of the questionnaire was assessed by three experts using IOC, yielding an average content validity score of 0.89. Reliability testing was conducted on a subset of 30 individuals with similar characteristics, resulting in a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84. The Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, employing Pearson's Product Moment Correlation, were used for data analysis. The study revealed most male participants, and most were between 55-64 years old30.20 %. Most were married or living together 71.13 % and had received limited or low formal education 40.16 %, with a predominant agricultural occupation 8.46 %. The findings indicated low knowledge and awareness concerning food consumption and suggested moderate adherence to appropriate food consumption behavior among the Lahu people. Furthermore, a positive relationship was observed between the level of knowledge and food consumption behavior, indicating that increased knowledge about food consumption led to improved food consumption behavior among them, with statistical significance at the 0.01 level. Based on the study findings, several research recommendations were proposed. Firstly, organizing activities such as cooking demonstrations should be implemented to promote health and overall quality of life for the Lahu people. Secondly, policies should be developed to manage and promote correct food consumption behavior aligned with nutritional principles. Additionally, education and training programs focused on ethnic food preservation should be established to ensure a year-round food supply for the Lahu people.

Keywords: Food consumption knowledge, Food consumption behaviors, Lahu tribes