Health Promotion and Quality of Life Improvement for Children and People at Phufa Development Area, Nan Province

Abstract

This research was aimed to synthesize a health promotion and quality of life improvement model and to study the key success factors that support the model operation for the people at Phufa Development area project, Nan province. It was conducted as a mixed method study with convergent parallel design. Qualitative data were collected through participated observation, field note and in-depth interviews with 18 key informants recruited by purposive sampling. The quantitative data were collected from 27 school directors, 27 school health teachers, and 810 students enrolled by quota sampling with the use of self-administrative questionnaire. The qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis while the quantitative data were examined by applied descriptive statistic. The result showed that: (1) all schools had a health checkup program for their students. There were activities to promote oral health hygiene, and had the nutrition tools for organizing food menus and implementing food sanitation standards. The quality of drinking water was improved by filtering machine and provided drinking water stations for students and staff. The conditions of bathrooms, toilets and sanitary ware were clean. Boarding students cleaned their accommodation clothes and mattresses regularly, with adequate washing facilities provided by the school. (2) The operations on health promotion and quality of life improvement applied community based approach. Environmental management that promote health, both physical and social, was set as the priority with cooperation from all sectors. (3) The health promotion and quality of life model for the people was similar to chemical bonding that united all relevant agencies in the operation. There were 4 bonds, namely, setting goals, preparation of an action plan, supporting and promoting health actions, and evaluation. (4) Key performances for the success were policy issues set in all government levels driving by the network’s participation and community strengthening. This model of health promotion and quality of life development could be used as a guideline for health promotion and quality of life development in localities with similar context by adjusting the guidelines variables to be suitable for each geographic area.