Competency and factor associated with recruitment of community public health professional personnel in public health organization in Thailand

Abstract

Background: The development of health manpower is an important issue for the aim of the population to receive health services with quality, efficiency, and equity. Thus, it is necessary to have a plan to create public health academics who are capable in applying academic knowledge and managing tasks that are assigned to them effectively in planning, evaluation, and research development to be consistent with the changing situations at present. Objectives: This cross-sectional study was aimed to describe the situation, distribution, job characteristics, competency and identify factors associated with recruitment in public health organization of community public health professional in Thailand. Method: A total of 2,085 community public health professional staff were selected by multi-stage random sampling method to response the self-administered structured questionnaire. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with recruitment in public health organization among community public health professional in Thailand. Results: The results indicated that among 2,085 community public health professionals, factors associated with recruitment in public health organizations were; Bachelor of Public Health graduates (AOR=4.81, 95% CI: 2.99-7.76; P-value < 0.001), Bachelor of Science (Public Health) graduates (AOR=3.46, 95% CI: 2.06 – 5.84; P-value < 0.001), working in community hospital (AOR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.43 - 2.75; P-value < 0.001), work characteristics were corresponds with their degrees (AOR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.12 - 2.47; P-value < 0.001), graduated from public health college (AOR=5.27, 95% CI: 3.42 - 8.13; P-value < 0.001), graduated from public university (AOR=3.71, 95% CI: 2.41 - 5.72; P-value < 0.001), graduated from Rajabhat University (AOR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.00 - 2.02; P-value < 0.001), organization had position (AOR=2.49, 95% CI: 2.05 - 3.04; P-value < 0.001), organization employed correspondent with the graduated field (AOR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.17 - 3.04; P-value < 0.001) and employed close to the graduated field (AOR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.43 - 3.40; P-value < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: Community public health professional personnel suggested that their profession development should be supported by promoting to a higher position with the same position code.