The Development of Opisthorchiasis Prevention Model in Chanuman Subdistrict, Chanuman District, Amnatcharoen Province

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop a model for liver fluke disease prevention in Chanuman Subdistrict, Chanuman District, Amnat Charoen Province. By applying the participatory planning concepts used as guideline to develop a model for liver fluke disease prevention in community. Participants were 69 volunteers, purposive sampling by selected from two groups such as leader group 30 cases included 1 headman village, 2 assistants headmen village, 2 sub-district administrative organization members, 10 village health volunteers, 2 public health officers, 3 teachers and 10 village residents. And another group were 39 cases who had risk to liver fluke disease. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by questionnaire and interview, qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis, and quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics paired-t test were applied to testing the difference of mean, knowledge scores and participation before and after the model development.

The study show that, the community flukes disease prevention model included 1) establishing community health leaders 2) screening risk groups by community health leaders 3) fecal examination for parasitic eggs in risk groups and medication treatment. 4) Behavioral modification on risk groups to participate in activities to change behavior for liver fluke disease prevention,  public relations campaign, home visit, motivate, give an advice by community health leaders. 5) Apply social regulations on papaya salad without raw pickled fish, and good sanitation practice. 6) Joint evaluation with the goal of "Ban Chanuman non-parasitic village, healthy people and social participation.” The results found that after the model development, the leader group in the community had significantly mean score on knowledge and participation higher than before applied the model. In the risk group found, after the training had significantly higher mean score of knowledge than before the training that affected by activities on liver fluke disease prevention program including flip picture of liver fluke disease, picture of liver fluke patients, video about liver fluke disease and told the experience from patients with liver fluke disease to sharing and discussing. Thus, the sample has more knowledge and understanding about liver fluke disease.

This study found, to giving an opportunities for people in the community to participate in the participatory planning process to solve liver fluke disease effects the community to obtain an obviously systematic operational model that should be implement the developed model and apply to other areas in the future.