Model Development on Community Empowerment for Managing Diabetis Problems at Nongkung sub-district, Kaedam district, Mahasarakham Province

Abstract

This study is a participatory action research on diabetic problems. Our objectives are to empower the community and to process the knowledge management towards the best practice on handling the diabetic problems. We create a joint research team to develop the community leaders by applying the knowledge management and modeling the district's administration structure simulation of Tambon Administration Organization (TAO) and community leaders as a cabinet. There is a clear division of roles in management to use the knowledge management process for lessons and discussions. We do this by holding seminars and declaring the policies and the results of the operations following the policies of cabinet models to support the management policies, programs and activities to resolve diabetes. The area studied in this paper is Nongkung sub-district, Kaedam district of Mahasarakham province which has very high rate of people with diabetes.  Research tools consist of observation, participation, dialogue to exchange learning, in-depth interview, focus group discussion and set-up of community forum. Population studied are community leaders, representatives from sub-district administration, health center, district health office and 1,085 people with diabetes and high risk of diabetes aged 35 years and more.

The results showed that only 25.3% of people with high risk of diabetes and diabetes patients exercise regularly. Fifty three point four percent of them have a family history of diabetes and 43.5% are obese. One point three percent of females have an overweight child. The result of learning process indicate that there should be three main categories to resolve diabetes including 1) Home visiting leader 2) Administrative leader and 3) Diabetic patients and relatives who can help get good results. All of them are able to help building empowerment of community to manage and solve the diabetic problems which resulted in the best practice and no amputation among existing diabetic patients. The cabinet model, which consists of the president of sub-district administration as the prime minister and scholars who have been nominated by the council as ministers of public health, education, agriculture, and sports and tourism, can plan tasks and activities of each ministry successfully. Result from setting up of sub-district cabinet showing effective formulation of planning and activities of each ministry which were linked and integrated each other toward the empowerment of community for the best practice in managing diabetic problems. They can petrol for prevention and control including exercising, stress reduction, self care, herb using, and nutrient intake. In addition, they are encouraged to grow rice instead of sticky rice, grow vegetables within household, trade crops with other areas, and talk about diabetes by the student voice lines. This research not only helps reducing the level of diabetes by the management of the community leader but also strengthens the communities which should be done successively and could make the health care system more efficient.