Publication: The role of folk healers in the malaria volunteer program in Thailand.
Issued Date
1991-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
01251562
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-0026128080
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health. Vol.22, No.1 (1991), 57-64
Suggested Citation
K. Okanurak, S. Sornmani, U. Chitprarop The role of folk healers in the malaria volunteer program in Thailand.. The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health. Vol.22, No.1 (1991), 57-64. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/22152
Research Projects
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Thesis
Title
The role of folk healers in the malaria volunteer program in Thailand.
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Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
In the Malaria Control Program of Thailand, villagers were recruited as village malaria volunteers to assist and participate in passive case detection at the community level by preparation of blood smears and provision of presumptive treatment to suspected cases. Among these volunteers, there were some folk healers. This study was intended to investigate the role of the folk healer volunteer in the Malaria Control Program in the northern area under the responsibility of the Malaria Zone 1, Region 2 in Fang, Mae Ai and Chiang Dao Districts of Chiang Mai Province. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (participant and non-participant observations and structured questionnaires) were used to get information from 246 volunteers, of whom 113 were folk healers. Most of the volunteers were male and more than half were in the age group 30-50 years. Almost all volunteers had completed the compulsory education and farming was their main occupation. Folk healer volunteers were older and had been in the service longer than the non-folk healer volunteers. Both groups of volunteers shared some negative attitudes towards the Malaria Control Program, such as the interference with their occupation and the waste of time. However, the folk healer volunteers had more positive attitudes towards the program in terms of gaining social respect and the willingness to stay on. It was also found that the folk healer volunteers performed their assignment better than the non-folk healer volunteers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)