Policies to increase health inducing behavior Thailand

Abstract

© Kanchit Suknark, Jirakom Sirisrisakulchai, Songsak Sriboonchitta, 2016. This paper proposes a new method to analyze the factors affecting health behavior. The proposed model gives more efficient parameter estimates in comparison with traditional models. Understanding the dependencies between choices in each health behavior gives useful information for designing more efficient public health promotion and national disease prevention programs. The data from Thai National Health Examination Survey were used to analyze the factor affecting physical activity, tobacco consumption and alcohol consumption, simultaneously. The empirical results show the negative correlation between tobacco consumption and physical activity behaviors. We also found a positive correlation between alcohol consumption and physical activity. Finally, from the empirical results, the recommended policies designed to reduce health-risk behavior and increase health inducing behavior in Thailand are discussed.