Mobilization of the Act for Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem, B.E. 2559 (2016) through Local Collaborations in Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

The objective of this participatory action research was to investigate demographic, social, and economic characteristics including obtaining opinions from local research team, the three participatory learning process, plans and results according to sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Act for Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem, B.E. 2559 (2016) in order to ensure the accessibility among youths mandated in section 5 of the Act. The samples included 137 participants consisted of teachers, public health professionals, representatives from local governments, establishments, community leaders, village health volunteers, child and youth leader council, teenage mothers and families from 10 districts. The data were collected using reviews of documents at the provincial level, in-depth interview, and participant observation during October 2018 – September 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analyses for qualitative data.September 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analyses for qualitative data.

It was found that village health volunteers and child and youth leader council showed positive opinions toward the issue and were ready to participate the development process. The learning process promoted the participation among local researchers during analyses of communities, trends and interconnectedness of the issues in the future as well as planning and implementing of the actions at the local level. The plans and outcomes of the activities according to the Act are mostly general activities according to organizations’ missions. They did not show plans and activities that reflected the true problems in the communities. The integration of the plans and collaborations were generally low. There was no evaluation of quality and effectiveness. Additionally, government, private sectors, civil society, families, and parents were not knowledgeable about this Act, resulting in limited access of adolescents and youths to the Section 5 as mandated in the Act.  

It was recommended that the provincial committee should work collaboratively with other local entities to develop integrated plan that effectively prevent and solve adolescent pregnancy through district health boards (DHB) and utilizing the leadership of sub-district family development centers and child and youth leader council as a development mechanism at the family level to build the surveillance system on adolescent pregnancy with participations from all entities in the community. Furthermore, the development of an inclusive sexuality learning process based on the rights of the reproductive health of adolescents and the access of a welfare and care system should be required for all adolescents and families.