Development of an Environmental Health Management Program: A Case Study of Phrapariyattitham School, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Phrapariyattitham schools were the places where environmental health action was required to reduce environmental factors affecting health. This study was a participatory action research. The objective was to develop a model of environmental health management for novices in Phrapariyattitham school. The data were collected from in-depth interview, Small group Discussion and questionnaires. The quantitative data was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data was analyzed by thematic analysis.

            The study showed sample group collaborated to design an environmental health management model which consisted of two main activities: educational activities on school environment management and educational activities on infectious diseases caused by vectors. The total duration for implementing the plan was 5 weeks. And the results of comparing the knowledge average score showed that the knowledge score after intervention (median 15.50, IQR 5.75) was significantly higher than the score before intervention (median 23.00, IQR 2.00) at p = 0.05. The results of assessing the feasibility of the model, the overall feasibility assessor was rated high and after the implementation of the model, the number of items passed the criteria increased 6 items. Hence, public health officers can apply this model of environmental health management in the organization of health care activities for novices at other Phrapariyattitham schools with similar contexts.