Perceived Roles and Actual Roles of Health Personnel in Malaria Prevention and Control, Yala Province

Abstract

        This survey was aimed at describing the level of role perception and actual role performance among health personnel in malaria prevention and control in Yala Province, and to explore the problems and obstacles in their practices. The 98 population comprised 17 health staffers of the Vector-borne Disease and Control Unit (VDCU) and 81 primary care providers in rural health centers. Data were collected using questionnaires, namely 1) health personnel in VDCU survey and 2) primary care provider survey. Their content validity was examined by five experts and yielded content validity indices of 0.94 and 0.92 respectively. Their reliability was tested using test-retest method yielding correlation coefficients of 0.81 and 0.80 respectively. Frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis. The findings showed that the total score (scale 1-5) of role perception (μ 3.57, σ 0.45) and its two subtotal scores among the health staffers of VDCU were at a moderate level. The subtotal score of agent control was at a high level (μ 4.03, σ 0.53). In addition, the total score (μ 3.09, σ 0.84) and all subtotal scores of role perception among primary care providers were at a moderate level. The total score (scale 0-3) of actual role performance (μ 1.31, σ 0.21) its two subtotal scores were at a moderate level, whereas the subtotal scores of agent control was at a high level. In addition, the total score (μ 1.15, σ 0.49) and all subtotal scores of role performance among primary care providers were at a moderate level.

        The health personnel of VDCU reported the most significant problem/obstacle in their role performance was a lack of cooperation from the community (76.47%), whereas the primary care providers reported that their problem/obstacle was the unrest situation in the area (32.10%). In addition, insufficient budgeting (58.82%; 18.52%) and personnel shortage (47.06%; 17.28%) were reported as the problem/obstacles by both groups. The findings suggest a need for manpower improvement and collaborative system development of the health personnel, and enhancing public participation in malaria prevention and control.

Key words: role, malaria prevention and control, health personnel