Participation of Beneficiaries in Community Health Care Program: The Case of Tanghpre Parish, Kachin State, Myanmar
Abstract
This study determined the perception on the participation level of village people as beneficiaries of a community health care project, which served as a development strategy in four villages of Tangphre Parish in Kachin State, Myanmar. A total of 62 beneficiaries including one project staff served as respondents of the study. Data were collected through a combination of individual survey and key informant interviews. Results of the survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results showed that the perceived level of participation was moderate in all phases. Project activities such as health prevention trainings; support for basic needs; and provision of medicines, supplementation and treatment; and referral services were the motivating factors that increased the participation of the grassroots. The beneficiaries’ contributions in terms of their resources like food, labor, shelter, knowledge, and time were indicators of their commitment to the project. Highly favorable attitude, improved skills, and knowledge of the community health care workers, health and development committees, and project staff were important factors that encouraged the beneficiaries to achieve the project’s objectives.
Political conflicts and lack of transportation were found to be the major barriers to program implementation. Hence, there is a need to address the conflicts and improve the peace and order situation in the villages. There should also be a close collaboration of the Community Health Care and Development Program with the national government and the Kachin Independence Association to address a wide range of issues in attaining basic needs and in improving all aspects of the people’s lives.
