The effect of the 5Rs with the HBM program on municipal solid waste management knowledge and perceptions among rural residents in Pong District, Phayao Province

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a continuous environmental challenge in the modern world. Thus, this study aims to compare the knowledge of MSW management (MSWM) and Health Belief Model (HBM)-related perceptions between experimental and control groups before and after implementing the 5Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle) with the HBM program. Using a quasi-experimental, two-group pretest-posttest design, the experimental group participated in a six-week educational program. Questionnaires covered general information, knowledge of MSWM via the 5Rs with the HBM-based program and HBM-related perceptions. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, means, and standard deviations. The study involved 220 participants, mostly with a primary education level. They were evenly distributed between the experimental and control groups. Results revealed the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores (X̅ = 40.13, SD = 1.435) compared to the control group (X̅ = 31.78, SD = 2.435), with a p-value of < 0.001. Mean scores for four perceptions of HBM, namely perceived susceptibility and severity of improper waste segregation, as well as perceived benefits a