The Role of Village Health Volunteers (VHV) for Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) in Communities in Nong Suea District, Pathum Thani Province

Abstract

                                                                                                                        Abstract

            This study was aimed ; (1) to study the VHVs’ role in surveillance to prevent COVID-19 in community, (2) to study preventive behaviors of VHV, (3) to compare preventive behavior of VHV in the epidemic situation of COVID-19 in the areas between lockdown policy and relief measures in 2021. The sample consisted of 275 VHVs in Nong Suea District. Data were collected through questionnaires related to VHVs’role and surveillance of prevention and control COVID19 in communities of Nong Suea District, Pathum Thani Province, and focus group. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and content analysis.

            The results were as follows:
1. VHVs had do more activities in surveillance to prevent and control COVID19 than any other activities. Activities that VHVs not do in the highest level is educating community member to make face mask from fabric, follows by campaign activity to clean the environment.
2. COVID19 preventive behaviors of VHVs, they had done these behaviors in high level, except eating hot foods in relief measures which had done in moderate level.
3. No significance differences in COVID19 preventive behaviors between lockdown policy and relief measures in 2021, and also found that VHVs had roles in surveillance related to accessibility in the areas and coordination with communicate in the communities for increasing access to COVID19 testing service and medical treatment, including participate to work in community isolation center, and utilize the technology to assist in access to service of citizen.

Keywords : Surveillance, Prevention and Control, Coronavirus Disease 2019, Village health volunteer