The Outcome of a System Development to Increase Access to Knowledge and Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services for Female Migrant Workers in Sumut Sakorn

Abstract

This research and development initiative aimed to study the situation, develop the system, and evaluate the outcomes of new system development to increase access to knowledge and to provide reproductive health services to female migrant workers in Samut Sakorn. This study was conducted in three steps. Step 1 was to describe female migrant workers' knowledge situation, attitudes, and effective access to reproductive health services in Samut Sakhon Province. The sample size was 538 people. The tool used was a questionnaire. The index of item-objective congruence (IOC) was 0.67–1.00. The Cronbach alpha’s reliability was .92 for the Myanmar language; .89 for Laos; and.91 for Cambodian. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The second step was to develop a system dedicated to access to health services. Step 3 consisted of evaluating the outcomes of the new system development through a quasi-experimental research design, using the one-group pretest-posttest method. The sample comprised 101 female migrant workers, and data analysis involved descriptive statistics and paired t-test statistics. The results revealed the following.

1. The sample had a low level of knowledge (M = 3.24, SD = 1.33). Participants exhibited incorrect attitudes towards reproductive health, especially concerning gender equality and women's rights. Regarding service access, a significant portion had never utilized sexual health examination services, neither from government facilities (60.78%) nor the private sector (63.38%).

2. The system development involves: 1) creating a mechanism for accessing services, 2) developing the potential of health volunteers among the migrant community, 3) Organizing small-group training for migrant workers and their families, 4) developing media and knowledge, providing advice through the hotline 1452, and 5) organizing campaign activities.

3. As a result, after the system development project, there was a significant increase in knowledge, attitudes, and access to reproductive health services among female migrant workers at the level of .001.

To enhance service access, a system should be developed for communication through different languages. This approach can mitigate language and cultural barriers, develop positive attitudes toward reproductive health, train migrant health volunteers, and provide friendly services. The overarching goal of this system development is to equip female migrant workers with knowledge, awareness, and the ability to access appropriate reproductive health services.