Factors affecting measles outbreak control operations of public health officers in Satun province

Abstract

This predictive research aimed to study factors affecting measles outbreak control operations of the public health officers in Satun province. We recruited 85 participants: directors and staffs responsible for epidemiology in health promoting hospitals and primary care units. The sample size was calculated by using G* Power program and the participants were recruited using stratified random sampling. Research instrument was a questionnaire consisting of 55 items including general questions regarding operation team, immunization operation, supporting information system, communication and coordination, and successful control of measles outbreak. The content validity was confirmed by 3 experts. The reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient yielding a value of operation team, immunization operation, supporting information system at 0.87, 0.89, 0.87, 0.89 and 0.93 respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and multiple regression analysis (stepwise). The results indicated that, factors affecting Measles Outbreak Control Operations of the public health officers in Satun province was at the high level (x ̅= 4.55, S.D.= 0.37). The communication and coordination (Beta = .595), and immunization operation (Beta = .221) factors predicted 58.3% variance in the measles outbreak control operation of the public health officers in Satun province with statistical significance at .001 level (adj.R2 = .583). Therefore, Satun Provincial Public Health Office and related agencies should develop and promote the communication and coordination channels in a modern, convenient and fast manner. Additionally, the local public health facilities should speed up the immunization operations to achieve more than 95% goal in all areas and those responsible for the provincial level should monitor the progress continuously.