The model and role of Migrant Health Volunteers (MHVs) in Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) along Thailand’s border with Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia 10.55131/jphd/2024/220210
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Abstract
This study aims to synthesize the model and the role of migrant health volunteers (MHVs) in DPC, supporting public health operations and promoting migrant access to health services along the Thai border with Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia. The study areas comprised six Provinces. The MHVs subjects included 75 people and stakeholders engaged in border health work included 84 people. The tools included a questionnaire and interview guide. Data were collected through both group and individual interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
Two models were the paired working model involved an individual MHVs co-worker between Thailand and public health volunteers in neighboring countries with different names such as MHVS buddy, Xiao (friendship), and Xiao Sukkhapap (health friendship), and the specific MHVs workgroup model, they were residing together as a community and mainly classified according to the characteristics of the MHVs. Two MHVs’ roles were the first, to operate and support the work of public health officials in disease surveillance and DPC were found at level 5 (mean = 12.85, SD = 2.86). The activities comprised acting as a health dam to prevent Communicable Diseases (CD), an event report, a co-worker with the Surveillance Rapid Response Migrant Team (SRRMT), and a campaign to provide knowledge and facilitate coordination between the government and the hard-to-reach ethnic minorities group at village and district levels. The second role involved promoting access to medical care for migrant workers found at level 4 (mean = 28.52, SD = 8.02). The activities were to facilitate and coordinate channels for accessing health care services, conduct home visits, and enable communication. MHVs are essential to DPC within the migrant worker community and strengthen support for health personnel for surveillance and DPC at border areas.
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