Resignation of Village Health Volunteers in Sukhothai Province
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Abstract
This qualitative descriptive phenomenological research aimed to study the resignation of village health volunteers (VHVs) in Sukhothai Province. The participants were 100 VHVs from Sukhothai Province, selected using the maximum variation sampling technique. In-depth interviews combined with observations were employed for data collection. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The reliability of the data was verified through triangulation.
The results revealed that most informants were female, accounting for 74.00%, with an average age of 47.24±16.26 years. A total of 71.00% were married, 44.00% had completed primary education, and 55.00% worked in agriculture or animal husbandry. Additionally, 55.00% reported using smartphones. On average, they had served as VHVs for 12.66±9.83 years. The reasons for resignations among VHVs were grouped into three main factors: 1) physical and health conditions, including aging, chronic illnesses, poor physical health, and other health-related challenges; 2) economic and social conditions, including obligations under legal duties, relocation, changes in workplace or occupation, increased family responsibilities, and other social roles; and 3) working environment conditions, including excessive workloads, lack of motivation, feelings of discouragement or boredom, insufficient support, limited cooperation among colleagues, and restrictive rules or regulations that hindered their ability to perform effectively.
Therefore, this research suggests that relevant agencies should use the findings for planning the community health workforce, recruiting and selecting new VHVs, reducing their turnover rate, and improving their retention.
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