Healthy Community Development: a Case Study of Krungching Sub–District in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This study was an action research aimed to develop a healthy community at Krungching subdistrict, Nopphitum District, Nakhon-Si-Thammarat Province, using the participatory rural appraisal and action learning as the process of community development. This process was comprised of health problem identification, health community mapping, community diagnosis, priority setting and problem solving plan in each community. The period of implementation was during August 2013 to March 2014. The samples were 224 people and stakeholders in 11 villages who were selected by purposive sampling. The implementations of this study was comprised of 4 steps: (1) planning, (2) action, (3) observation and (4) reflections. It was found that participants had knowledge and understanding about community health development under community diagnosis concepts. They were capable of performing the following activities: (1) designing community-health assessment tool; and (2) making community maps consisting of 6 dimensions (formal and informal leader map, physical map, mental map, social map and wisdom map) using collected data within the community. Regarding comminity participation, the samples felt that they were the owners of the problems, and that they should solve all the community problems by themselves. They also understood the concept of health promotion through participatory approach. Altogether 11 projects were created as well as the development of a 3-year health plan which was incorporated into the operational plan of the local sub-district organization.