Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the capacities of COVID-19 prevention and control among healthcare workers and health system under the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Interior located in the border areas in Chiang Rai Province: Mae Fah Luang, Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, Mae Suai, Wiang Pa Pao, Muang, and Chiang Khong Districts. Data were collected by validated questionnaires between April and December 2021. A total of 906 people were recruited into the study. In the aspect of management: healthcare workers working under health institutes belonging to the Ministry of Public Health, local government and health volunteers did not clearly understand the process of work. In the aspect of manpower: healthcare workers under the Ministry of Public Health reported having worked longer hours compared to the period of pre-COVID-19 epidemic, and healthcare workers shortage. In the aspect of communication: line application was favored among government officers. Mobile phones were commonly used among people in a community. In the aspect of materials for the implementation: N-95, PPE and face shield were not sufficient for working among healthcare workers, while the community members reported that masks and alcohol were not enough for them. In the aspect of budgetary: almost all government officers reported that they had a big challenge in the requesting process. Some of the officers did not get the compensation and used their personal money for buying equipment. In the governance aspect: the overload assigned from their director was the major concern. In the aspect of the health system: communities had established several commitments and agreements among them to prevent and control the disease. Moreover, most people followed the agreements. People in a community have good practices to prevent and control COVID-19. Personal and health system capacity related to COVID-19 prevention and control developments are crucial especially to people who are living in border areas. The main focus on improving the capacities are deploying processes of work in crisis situations to make them confident and accurately follow the instructions; the government sector is required to support budget sufficient and medical related materials to healthcare workers. Distribution of essential information to people should be prepared in appropriate languages. Communication channel is also one of the critical points to improve the prevention and control measures in a community. Encouraging people in a community in creating their commitments and implementing them are also very important concerns for improving the effectiveness of disease control and prevention.
