Abstract
The study of strengthening the quality of life of village health volunteers in the 8th Public Health Region for supporting primary health services during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted by a mixed-method study using a survey and group interview procedure. The sample for this study was 800 individuals of village health volunteers from 7 provinces under the 8th Public Health Region, which are Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, and Bueng Kan. Descriptive statistics utilized percentage, mean, distribution, and standard deviation for data analysis. Most of the village health volunteers were females aged between 51-60 years old 43.5%, married 77.3% with secondary education65.9%. Most of them were farmers 62.2% with an average income of under 6,000 baht per month56.3%. The duration of being a village health volunteer was between 10 and 19 years39.0%. The longest duration was 41 years, and the shortest was one year. The village health volunteers were responsible for looking after 10-15 households. The majority used a smartphone 97.7% and paid a phone bill of over 300 baht per month. Half of them had received the award or glorification50.3%. Most of them do not have congenital diseases 70.9% and are members of the funeral assistance 72.7%. The village health volunteers know the practice of disease prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic at the highest level (x̄ = 4.38, SD = 0.64). The aspect of strengthening the quality of life of village health volunteers found that they have strengthened the quality of life in seven aspects. The aspects that have been strengthened at the “highest” level are mental, value, and pride (x̄ = 4.37, SD = 0.66). The aspects that have been strengthened at the "high" level are societal and social support (x̄ = 4.19, SD = 0.34), working environment (x̄ = 3.92, SD = 0.59), physical (x̄ = 3.85, SD = 0.55), advancement (x̄ = 3.77, SD = 0.88), compensation, and welfare (x̄ = 3.62, SD = 0.77), and working balance (x̄ = 3.06, SD = 0.46 ). The aspect that has been strengthened at the "moderate" level is having enough money to spend as they wish (x̄ = 3.19, SD = 0.88). The suggestion from this study is that at the policy, working via the smartphone should be promoted and support the phone bill that they have used for their work. Review and increase the welfare, compensation, and glorification of the village health volunteer to encourage morale in working. Enhance the quality of life of the health aspect in various ways for the village health volunteers to be healthy and be role models for health.
