Development of Tuberculosis prevention and control by participation in Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in Thailand. Diagnosis and treatment of TB patients to stop occurring disease again is important. However, there are lacking of integration and coordinating with other service agencies by the way of caring TB patients or passing patients to urban areas. Hence, this research is an action research that aims to improve TB prevention and control by focusing on participation in Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima. The population and sample group consist of 28 public health officers who response in TB tasks of 14 service agencies from both private and public organization. The rest are 84 public health volunteers from Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima. The period of time for action research was from 1st March 2004 to 30th September 2005, which could be classified into 3 phases. (1) Preparation and planning phase. It includes the study about the problems from preventing and controlling TB. (2) Research and operation phase. It includes the study of action plan, problems solving, and operating TB prevention. (3) Evaluation phase. It includes the consideration and evaluation of factors for input, process, output, and out¬come. Besides, these use "System model" as a tool for research, exam, and training plan on the prevention and control of tuberculosis. Analysis of the data is divided into 2 parts. First, quantitative data is analyzed by using descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages. Second, qualitative data is to analyze the content (Content analysis), and feedback from the development of this model. Further, the form of development should be used to extend the network to cover all agencies that provide care for TB patients. So, this will lead to have the same standard and direction of TB control operation. Additionally, the activities of networks should execute constantly by the involvement of the executives from each unit in network. Also, the data storage should be developed to be able to connect with other related organization.