Knowledge assessment and practice toward disease surveillance, prevention and control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 among migrant health volunteers in Phuket Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to do knowledge assessment and practice toward disease surveillance, prevention and control of COVID-19 among migrant health volunteers in Phuket Province. This is a cross-sectional survey to analyze migrant health volunteers’ knowledge and practice on the prevention and control of COVID-19 before and after training. This study was conducted using purposive random sampling with 404 documented migrant workers in the area of Phuket. The data was collected between 1 February - 31 August 2022.

There were 404 migrant health volunteers participated in this study, 56.68% were female, mean age was at 46.3 years (SD=12.3 years), over 60 years old (15.4%). The knowledge scores before and after training with mean values of 4.60 and 7.40 points, respectively. The score after the training was significantly higher than before the training (P>0.01). The results of study revealed that migrant workers did not understand the practices to prevent infection with COVID-19, such as distancing during mealtime and isolation of individuals’ items. Followed by the lack of understanding that COVID-19 caused a long-term illness (Long COVID-19), which the symptoms continue for more than 3 months and may have permanent effects on health with symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, numbness, weakness in the limbs, should see a doctor.

Therefore, providing healthcare service for migrant workers about COVID-19, should focus on improving their practices such as avoiding sharing meals, understanding the complications and burden of long COVID. Moreover, migrant health volunteer networks play an important role in disease prevention and control.  However, communication should be carried out in migrant health volunteers’ language. Limited the number participated in the training. Also, providing dedicated sessions with allocated resources, and space, and encourage migrants to do discussion during the training.