The Capacity of Public Health Center in Sexual Transmitted Disease Control Service, Health Region 1

Abstract

            This preliminary survey was conducted in eight provinces, upper northern part of Thailand. It was studied during October 6th, 2005 to December 5th, 2005 to explore the capacity of the primary health care unit in Sexually Transmitted Disease service. 84 of the administrators from the provincial health office were interviewed by interviewers and 453 of nurses who responsible in communicable diseases prevention and control service responded questionnaires which distributed directly to the samples and sent back to the office of disease prevention and control region 10 by mail. After calculated by frequency, median and percentage analysis, it was found that 63.1 % of the administrators group who were decision makers in providing health policy in each of their provinces were not agree in sexually transmitted disease service decentralization to primary care unit. Although they have though that the health decentralization was good for nowadays, the primary care unit s were not ready not only in personnel but also in materials, management and budget. In health region 1, there was just only one hospital where could be serviced special clinic for STIs patients (Chiang Rai Prachanukrao hospital, Chiang Rai province) and also just only 38.9 % of all primary care units could be passed the standard of health care center. For sustainable reason, it should be pushed the STI service decentralization as health policy by the decision makers and emphasized only the physicians are in role of treatment meanwhile the primary care units would be play important role of surveillance, prevention and control health of people.