Realities and Expectations of Village Health Volunteers Regarding the Transfer of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals to the Local Administrative Organizations in Health Region 1

Abstract

  A cross-sectional study was conducted with the objective of examining and comparing the reality and expectations of Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) regarding the context of transferring Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals (SHPHs) to local administrative organizations (LAOs) in Health Region 1. The sample consisted of 420 VHVs working within the catchment areas of transferred SHPHs in Health Region 1, selected using multi-stage sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire developed by the researcher, comprising two sections: (1) general information, and (2) reality and expectations of the VHVs. The questionnaire demonstrated content validity with an Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) ranging from 0.67 to 1.00, and reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.83. Data collection was conducted via Google Forms during March to April 2025, and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests.

The findings revealed that the overall of the reality (mean = 3.95, SD = 0.53), and the overall expectation (mean = 4.08, SD = 0.59) was at high level.  Specifically, in terms of budgeting, the reality was lower than the expectation (mean = 3.73, SD = 0.65 vs. mean = 4.07, SD = 0.68). Regarding personnel/staff, the reality was slightly higher than the expectation (mean = 4.06, SD = 0.61 vs. mean = 4.01, SD = 0.62). Comparison of reality and expectations across various dimensions, including infrastructure (external buildings), equipment/materials, medicines and non-medicine supplies, personnel/staff, budgeting, service characteristics of VHVs were statistically significant differences (p < .05). The expectations of the VHVs, as integral actors within the health system, reflect the mission of transferring SHPH to LAOs policy in a manner that appropriately supports the delivery of services to the needs of the population.