Healthcare Utilization among Surin Residents under the “30-Baht Anywhere” Policy: Perspectives from Community Leaders and Village Health Volunteer

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey aimed to explore the perspectives of community leaders and village health volunteers (VHVs) on the utilization of healthcare services under the “30-Baht Anywhere” Policy in Surin Province. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Among the 7,173 respondents, the majority were village health volunteers (VHVs) (76.1%), female (73.9%), and aged 50–59 years (48.4%). In terms of policy awareness, 78.0% received information from government agencies, and 90.3% played a role in disseminating the policy within their communities, primarily through one-on-one communication (68.2%). The “Warm Community Nurse Clinic” was the most recognized (54.4%) and most widely available (37.7%) innovative health service unit in the area. Regarding opinions, 83.4% believed that policy communication should be delivered through community leaders and VHVs, while 48.7% rated subdistrict health-promoting hospitals (SHPHs) as providing the best service compared to higher-level hospitals. In terms of service experience, 55.1% reported no significant change in their healthcare utilization behavior, whereas 50.3% had used services provided by innovative health units, with the “Warm Community Nurse Clinic” being the most frequently used (28.7%). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between community leaders and VHVs across several questionnaire items. Furthermore, a comparison between municipal and non-municipal areas showed that respondents in municipal areas were more likely to use large hospitals, whereas those in non-municipal areas predominantly utilized SHPHs (p<0.05). These findings highlight the influence of geographic context on health-seeking behavior and underscore the need for clear communication mechanisms and context-specific policy implementation strategies to ensure equitable and sustainable access to healthcare services.