Factors Affecting Performance Involving Response to Smog Pollution among Village Health Volunteers in Mae on District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The cross-sectional descriptive research attempted to study the factors affecting the performance on smog pollution management among village health volunteers (VHVs). This research operated under the concept of multifactorial health behavior analysis by the PRECEDE Framework. The sample group consisted of 203 VHVs working in Mae On District, Chiang Mai Province, obtained by simple random sampling. Collection of data carried out by an interview with a questionnaire regarding to demographic, knowledge, attitudes, and practical duty of VHVs in smog control. Analyses of the data revealed frequencies, percentages, arithmetic means, and standard deviations by chi square test and stepwise multiple regression statistics. The results showed that most of the samples were female aged between 50-59 years, almost all were married, educated lower than secondary schooling, and were farmers. Having 38.9% a good level of duty on smog pollution, they performed completely under VHV’s function. Factors supported the duty included supplemental positions in the village, and their attitudes. Reinforcing factors such as obtaining knowledge from public health agencies and other agencies in charge of publishing and educating the people in the community, and enabling factors such as an encouragement from family members strengthened them with more willingness to perform the VHV’s duty. Linear regression analysis showed predictive factors for their performance in smog pollution management comprised community positions, reinforcing factors and enabling factors. Combination of the factors that could be able to predict the performance of the VHVs on smog pollution control was high as 25.8%. Therefore, public health officials and related agencies should focus on capable knowledge and encouragement to public health volunteers and the people who hold important positions in the community so that the performance of VHVs on however the smog pollution control is effective.