Development of a Community Model with no Antibiotics, Yachud and Steroids containing Drugs : A Case Study in Thung Luang Subdistrict Municipality, Khirimat District, Sukhothai

Abstract

Objective: To develop a community model with no antibiotics, Yachud and steroids containing drugs in Thung Luang Municipality, Khiri Mat District, Sukhothai Province. Methods: This action study was conducted in 2 cycles divided into 3 phases. Phases 1 involved the survey on problems in 13 villages to gain the information for planning. Phase 2 involved activities consisting of planning and resolving the problems through community meeting, creating mutually agreed public policies, driving the policy through the Quality of Life Development Committee and integrating in the Health Statute, inspection of the problems by pharmacists and networks in the community, control of source of drug distribution, in-depth interviewing 45 leaders of the Consumer Protection Network in Public Health (CSC), including 26 village health  volunteers (VHV), 13 community leaders, 2 representatives of local government organizations, and 2 representatives of sub-district health promoting  hospitals (SDHPH), one pharmacist at the hospital level and one at provincial level, measuring of knowledge of 37 grocery owners before and after training. Phase 3 was the evaluation of effort by villagers in all 13 villages writing their opinion in comment box, and reporting name of stores distributing inappropriate drugs. The evaluation took placed in every village and every month. Results: Survey in phase 1 identified 75.68% of the grocery stores distributing illegal drugs including antibiotics (64.86% of grocery stores), Yachud (21.62% of the grocery stores) and traditional drugs containing steroids (13.22% of the grocery stores). In the second phase, the average knowledge score of the grocery owners before the training was 7.32±1.38. After the training, the scores significantly increased to 16.00±1.26 (P <0.001) out of the full score of 20. After the intervention, no shops in the community sold antibiotics, Yachud, steroids containing drugs. Surveillance by the CPF network and VHVs and notification of the incidents to the staff in SDHPHs on through the VHV meeting or the Sub-district Quality of Life Committee’s Line group in every month eradicated the problem. Conclusion: Participatory action through the Quality of Life Development Committee at village level to district level helps Thung Luang community become a model for community free of antibiotics, Yachud and steroids containing drugs.