RESEARCH ARTICLE


Participatory Development in Community Health for the Pgazkoenyau Ethnic: A Case Study in an Ethnic Community in Thailand



Rungrueng Kitphati1, Khampon Seangkeao2, Kamolnat Muangyim3, Worayuth Nak-ai3, *
1 Health Technical Office, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
2 The Office of Disease Prevention and Control II, Department of Diseases Control, MoPH, Muang Phitsanulok, Phitsanulok Province 65000, Thailand
3 Sirindhorn College of Public Health Chonburi, Praboromarajchanok Institute For Health Workforce Development, Chonburi 20000, Thailand


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
3
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 1218
Abstract HTML Views: 529
PDF Downloads: 315
ePub Downloads: 189
Total Views/Downloads: 2251
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 783
Abstract HTML Views: 269
PDF Downloads: 250
ePub Downloads: 150
Total Views/Downloads: 1452



Creative Commons License
© 2022 Kitphati et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at Research and International Relations Department, Sirindhorn College of Public Health Chonburi, 29 M.4, Baan Suan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chonburi 20000 Thailand; Tel +66-38-275663-5, Fax:+66-38-274245 ; E-mail: worayuth@scphc.ac.th


Abstract

Background:

Most ethnic communities in Thailand were settled in remote areas with poor living conditions. Therefore, the “human-centered” concept was adopted to develop community health using the participation process.

Objective:

This research aimed to develop community health using the participation process at two Pgazkoenyau ethnic (Karen) communities whose environmental contexts were similar, in Tha Song Yang and Mae Ra Mard District, Tak Province.

Methods:

The multi-stage mixed methods design was applied for data collection. 24 participants were purposely recruited in the qualitative approach due to their responsibility as community health development operators. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. In addition, quantitative data were gained through interview forms and laboratory test reports. Then they were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test to compare mean behavioral variables, and z-test to compare the proportion of two communicable diseases and blood chemical residues, with 95% confident interval.

Results:

The development process consisted of problem finding, data feedback and community stage, capacity building, operation, creative meeting, networking and social capitalizing. They could manage all activities following the community plan: identify helminthiasis and malaria cases, introduce cholinesterase test kits, improve community environmental health, improve healthy behaviors and build capacity for health promotion skills. Evaluated community activities showed increased scores concerning knowledge, attitudes and practices about disease prevention. The prevalence rate of helminths infection decreased significantly. The environmental context was also improved to enable the population’s healthy living conditions.

Conclusion:

Community development should be based on community resources and all available social and human capital for sustainable development.

Keywords: Pgazkoenyau ethnic (Karen), Community health, Participation, Helminthes , Malaria, Mixed Methods.