Public Participation Affecting the Implementation of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Efforts in Sila Municipality, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Background and Aims: Initiatives for catastrophe prevention and mitigation are crucial to reducing the impact of both natural and man-made hazards on communities. They help to protect people, property, and the environment by taking proactive measures to address potential threats. Additionally, these programs encourage long-term sustainability and a speedier recovery by strengthening community resilience. This research aimed to 1) examine the level of public participation in disaster prevention and mitigation operations in Sila Municipality, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province; 2) study the factors of public participation that affect such operations; and 3) propose guidelines for enhancing public participation in disaster prevention and mitigation in Sila Municipality.

Methodology: The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research. The research tools included questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The sample consisted of 172 residents aged 18 and above from the Sila Municipality, 12 stakeholders involved in the municipality’s disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, and 12 key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using basic statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression). Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: The findings show that most respondents were male (62.20%), aged between 26 and 35 years (33.10%), had an education below a bachelor’s degree (52.30%), were self-employed or engaged in trade (34.30%), and earned an average monthly income of 15,001–30,000 Baht. The overall public participation in disaster prevention and mitigation was high (\bar{x}= 4.07). The highest level of involvement was in decision-making (\bar{x}= 4.28), followed by benefit-sharing (\bar{x}= 4.08), operational participation (\bar{x}= 3.99), and evaluation participation (\bar{x}= 3.92). Regarding factors affecting disaster prevention and mitigation, the correlation coefficient between public involvement and operational effectiveness was statistically significant at the 0.05 level, with a correlation coefficient of 0.405. The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.894, and the coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.800, indicating that the four predictor variables collectively explained 80% of the variance in disaster prevention and mitigation operations. The standard error of prediction was 0.302. The three variables that significantly predicted the operations were operational participation (X2), benefit-sharing participation (X3), and evaluation participation (X4). The guidelines for improving public involvement include five approaches: 1) ensuring widespread and accessible communication of information; 2) preventing and reducing impacts; 3) preparing for disaster prevention and mitigation; 4) emergency response; and 5) post-disaster recovery strategies.

Conclusion: The study concludes that public participation is essential to successful catastrophe prevention and mitigation, particularly in relation to decision-making and benefit-sharing. Five strategic improvement guidelines were developed based on the identification of operational, benefit-sharing, and assessment-participation as significant success factors.