DEVELOPMENT OF SURVEILLANCE, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL PROTOCOLS FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES ALONG THE THAI-LAOS BORDER THROUGH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND VILLAGE HEALTH VOLUNTEERS IN NAN PROVINCE

Abstract

Abstract

        This participatory action research aimed to study the development of surveillance, prevention and control protocols of communicable diseases among Thai - Laos cross border area by engaging community leaders and village health volunteers in Nan Province. The participants were selected using purposive sampling, including 188 community leaders and village health volunteers, and government officials at border relaxation points. Data was collected using test forms, questionnaires, group conversations, observations and field notes, interviews, and group discussions. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test. While the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.

        The results of this study showed that current knowledge of the community leaders and village health volunteers regarding surveillance, prevention and control protocol for communicable diseases in the community was at a moderate level, their skills and practices in this area were also at a moderate level. The development of surveillance prevention and control protocols of communicable diseases along the Thai - Laos cross border consisted of 4 aspects; 1) Strategic plan preparation for surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases along the Thai - Laos cross border. 2) Capacity building of community leaders and village health volunteers for surveillance, prevention and control protocol of communicable diseases. 3) Development of an information system for diseases surveillance, prevention and control along the Thai - Laos cross border, and 4) Strengthening participation with network partners. From the evaluation results, the mean scores of knowledge, skills, practices, and participation in operational surveillance, prevention, and control of communicable diseases were significantly higher after the development compared to before the intervention at the 0.05 level.