Factors affecting the involvement in the prevention and control of dengue fever by village health volunteers in Bo Phloi District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aims to examine: 1) the leading factors, supporting or supplementary factors, and enabling factors; 2) participation; and 3) factors affecting participation in the prevention and control of dengue fever by community health volunteers (CHVs) in Bo Phloi District, Kanchanaburi Province. The study population consisted of 1,068 CHVs, with a sample size of 184 participants calculated. Data were collected between October and December 2024 using a five-part questionnaire, which was reviewed by three experts. The content validity index for each objective ranged from 0.67 to 1.00. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients were as follows: leading factors 0.822, supporting or supplementary factors 0.848, enabling factors 0.756, participation 0.931, and the overall questionnaire 0.910. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analysis.

The research findings revealed that: 1) Regarding the leading factors, it was found that perceived benefits, self-efficacy, perceived severity, perceived risk, and perceived barriers were at a high level. 2) Supporting or supplementary factors were at a high level. 3) Enabling factors were at a high level. 4) All aspects were at a high level, with the highest average being for participation in decision-making and participation in benefits. This was followed by participation in evaluation and participation in operations. 5) The independent variables predicting participation in dengue fever prevention and control among community health volunteers (CHVs) were enabling factors for disease prevention and control, and supporting or supplementary factors for disease prevention and control. These variables together explained 50.2% of the variation (adjusted R² = 0.502).

Therefore, public health officials and relevant organizations, such as the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) or municipality, must provide support to community health volunteers (CHVs) in terms of budget, materials, equipment, as well as morale and encouragement, to effectively carry out dengue fever prevention and control efforts.