A Participatory Maternal and Child Health Model in the Community by Using the Isan Indigenous Cultural Process, Phon Sai Sub-district, Muang Mukdahan District. Mukdahan Province

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a participatory community maternal and child health model using Thailand’s north-eastern indigenous cultural process to provide qualified standardized antenatal care services. It was conducted in 2016 as an action research by using participatory planning process techniques. The samples were 60 pregnant women, the elderly, monks, community leaders, volunteers and family health leaders. It was found that the suitable format for the innovative model included the following components: (1) service notification using text message (SMS) warning which indicated the concern, (2) promoting self care during pregnancy through Buddhist traditional way of life, and (3) promote innovations on nutrition durong pregnancy and the use to photographic pregnancy staging (Vallop curve) together with health education. solve pregnant women’s nutritional problems, expand the Vallop Curve, and photograph all pregnant women in the area of responsibility. provide health education together with the graph explanation. The model had successfully increase awareness and alertness among the pregnant women in the community. The approach should be widely applied to strengthen maternal and child care program at community level.