The development of a health promotion management system in the workplace for the garment industry in Bangkok Metropolis

Abstract

Due to an increasing trend in non-communicable diseases (NCD) among people in developing countries, health promotion has played an important role in NCD prevention. Managerial improvement is one of the areas that need special consideration. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to develop a managerial health promotion system in the garment industry located in Bangkok Metropolis. Two main phases were designed for the study, including a baseline survey and health promotion activities among 30 textile businesses in terms of individual health, environmental health and health care systems. It was found that workers had poor health knowledge and poor health promotion behavior which could lead to an increase in personal illness and work absence. The environmental aspects were not supportive of a healthy atmosphere because the workplace had concentrated only on mandatory services. Therefore, a health promotion management system was developed using a system approach model with full participation from all levels of staff in the situation analysis, decision-making, planning, implementing, evaluating and feedback. Components of the health promotion system were analyzed prior to implementation. The Appreciation Influence and Control Process (AIC) was selected as an intervention to create overall participation. It is suggested from the study that an effective health promotion management system be conducted with full participation of employees in the management, organization of programs, economic support, production of resources, and delivery of services for health promotion in their working environment. The designed comprehensive health promotion program was effective and satisfactory to the employees. However, the success of the program greatly depends on the awareness, acceptance, and support of top management level and the staff’s willingness to participate.