Development of a Structural Equation Model on the Role and Duty of Village Health Volunteers and Local Network in the Management of Crude Oil Leak at Samet Island, Rayong Province, Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to run participatory brainstorming by Appreciation-Influence-Control (A-IC) workshop with village health volunteers (VHV) for specifying the roles and duty in participation with health and environmental problems management in the crisis of crude oil leak in Samet island and develop a Structural Equation Model (SEM) setting. It was conducted by among 50 VHVs and representatives of a multidisciplinary network. It was found that the , the results found that the Appreciation-Influence Control (A-I-C) workshop was able to set role and duty of the VHVs and the local network in monitoring the crude oil leak crisis, implementing emergency response during the crisis, and communicating the risk with the public. Such implementation in the Samet island could be beneficial for preparedness on the similar crisis in the future. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) setting on participation of VHVs and the network in health and environmental management in the event of oil leakage crisis had specified their roles and duty to be external latent variables (Ksi or Ѯ), composed of participatory activities as observable variables that could influence over the potential areas where emergency situation from crude oil leak might happen. The components of impact included socio-economic conditions and population health in the affected beach areas. The authors suggested that more research should be conducted to verify the hypoth esis of the Structural Equation Model.