Factors affecting performance of village health volunteers in Sukhothai, Thailand

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to investigate the factors affecting performance among village health volunteers (VHVs). The sample participants were 598 VHVs in Sukhothai Province, Thailand. They were selected by using the systematic random sampling technique. In this research, a questionnaire was employed for the data collection, after which the data were analysed by using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The study results showed that knowledge, role perception, social support, and work motivation were at a high level, whereas attitude and performance were at a moderate level. Work motivation was the strongest predictor of performance among VHVs, followed by role perception, number of other positions in the communities, knowledge, agricultural occupation, duration of being VHVs, and attitude. In combination, all these factors could predict the performance of the VHVs at 26.5% with a statistical significance of 0.05. According to the study results, related agencies should arrange training programs as a means of enhancing attitude towards work operation and role perception, and should create work motivation of VHVs to further increase their effectiveness of performance.