Effectiveness of Subdistrict Health Office in Controlling Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Vector in Nonthaburi Province

Abstract

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF),a critical public health problem of Nonthaburi Province,
was first ranking in its morbidity rate among the provinces occupied zone 1 of Communicable
Disease Control Region. This explanatory research aimed at studying the effectiveness of the
subdistrict health office in controlling DHF vectors in Nonthaburi Province. The sample group
used for the study was the subdistrict officers responsible for DHF vector control, representing 75
subdistrict health offices in Nonthaburi Province. Questionaires were used to collect data and
were returned at a rate of 100%. It was found that 50.7% of the subdistrict officers were male. Their
average age was 40.3 years. Most (90.6%) graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. The average year
responsible in vector control was 9.1. Each officer was responsible for an average of 4.6 villages.
There was an average of 7.0 DHF patients in each responsibility area. Data were analysed by
using Chi – square test and t-test.
The results showed that most subdistrict officers (53.4%) contained a fair knowledge of the
criteria for DHF vectors control. Most of them (66.7%) had a good effectiveness level in controlling
DHF vectors. It was found that factors which related to the effectiveness of subdistrict health offices
with a statistical significance (p<0.05), were female officers and a longer duration of DHF vector
control responsibility.