Comparative Role and Function of Village Health Volunteers’s model case study Kantang Trang and Bangrakpattana Nonthaburi

Abstract

The objectives of this research were (1) to conduct comparative study of the role and duties of village health volunteers in Bangrakpattana, Nonthaburi and Kantang, Trang (2) to analyze and provide suggestions for participation of village health volunteers in the study area, and (3) to compare the performance of village health volunteers in the study area. This study was a qualitative research through  an in-depth interview. Key informants consisted of 16 village health volunteers, dividing into 8 volunteers in each study area. Data collected were then classified, analyzed, and presented through  a descriptive analysis. 

        The results of this research indicated that (1) village health volunteers in both Sub-districts were responsible for health promotion for local people, transferring and publicizing health knowledge, and persuading neighbors to participate in public health development activities in the same direction. However, village health volunteers in Kantang, Trang had higher public health knowledge and  scope of assignments than those in Bangrakpattana, Nonthaburi. (2) The problems of village health volunteers included compensation, insufficient welfare, failing to meet the demand of members. In addition, there were the problems of misunderstandings, noncooperation, and ignorance of people and stakeholders towards the important roles of village health volunteers for public health development. (3) Village health volunteers in Kantang, Trang have operated under the rural society context with limited accessibility to public health while having greater bonding with stakeholders than those in Bangrakpattana, Nonthaburi with an urban society context. Therefore, local people in Kantang, Trang tended to be  open-minded to accept, listen to, and participate in public health activities, leading to the achievement of prescribed goals.