Study of Dengue Fever Preventive and Control Operations among Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), Samut Prakan Province

Abstract

          Dengue fever is a Vector Borne Disease that poses a public health concern in Thailand. Samut Prakan Province is one of the areas experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever in the year 2022, with the number of dengue fever cases exceeding the predetermined target rate. The objectives of this mixed method research were to: 1) study the level of dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers; 2) study factors predicting dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers; and 3) develop a model for dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers. The first sample group comprised 504 village health volunteers in Samut Prakan Province, selected using systematic random sampling, while group 2 consisted of prevention experts in dengue fever control and presidents of provincial and district public health volunteers, totaling 10 people, who were purposively sampled and voluntarily participated in the research project. The research tools included: 1) a questionnaire; 2) a focus group recording form; and 3) a form for evaluating the appropriateness of the format. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, multiple regression analysis, and content analysis.
          The research findings indicate that: 1) the level of dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers was found to be high, with 69.25% (= 40.42, SD=6.81) of the sample group exhibiting such activities; 2) factors predicting the performance of dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers included social support, awareness of preventive measures for dengue fever, and resource availability, collectively accounting for 38.90% of the variance; and 3) the development of a model for dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers revealed four components: activity planning, implementation of the "Community Safe from Dengue Fever" initiative, performance monitoring, and evaluation, which demonstrated high levels of overall appropriateness (= 4.45, SD=0.14).
          Suggestions from this research indicate that public health agencies should adopt dengue fever preventive and control operations among village health volunteers and apply the findings in areas at risk of further dengue fever outbreaks, thus expanding the results.