Area-Based Partnerships Management: Research Experience on Integrative Health Promotion in Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to investigate the management process of area-based partnerships in integrative health promotion research in Ratchaburi province; and 2) to present area-based partnership management in health promotion work. The study used a qualitative research method, with data collected through in-depth interviews with 12 people and focus group discussions with 34 people, all of whom were leaders involved in health promotion in the areas and in the operation of health promotion projects, and they were all chosen for the study by purposive sampling. The obtained data were analyzed by triangulation and presented by descriptive method.

From the study, the following results are found: 1) There are 7 approaches to managing the process of area-based partnerships in integrative health promotion research in Ratchaburi province, namely strengthening change leaders, investment from various networks and sector, the development of database to support area-based work, strengthening main mechanism, establishing a participatory learning trend, the development of model learning center, and maintaining the network's existence; and 2) The guidelines for managing the process of area-based partnerships in health promotion work consist of 5 aspects, namely (1) Establishing the central coordination center, (2) Setting up a provincial working group, (3) Forming a working group in specific areas, (4) Empowerment evaluation and knowledge management, and (5) Summarizing the lesson and enhancing the level of work. The research results and guidelines for developing networks are in line with the situation and can be applied in the operational cycle in a wide range of contexts.