BUDDHIST INTEGRATION FOR ENHANCING POLITICAL AWARENESS AMONG VILLAGE HEALTH VOLUNTEERS AT CHOMPHU SUB-DISTRICT, MUEANG DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1. To study the level of political awareness of Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) 2. To investigate the relationship between the Adhitthana-dhamma, Principles of Determination, and the political awareness of VHVs; and 3) to propose Buddhist integration to promote the political awareness of VHVs at Chomphu Sub-district, Mueang District, Lampang Province; This study employed a mixed-methods research design. The quantitative approach involved a sample of 230 VHVs, with data collected via questionnaires and analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The qualitative approach involved in-depth interviewing 10 key informants, with data analyzed by descriptive content interpretation.

The results of the research were as follows: 1. The overall level of political awareness of VHVs at Chomphu Sub-district, Mueang District, Lampang Province, was at a moderate level ( = 3.44). Considering each aspect, political attitude had the highest mean, followed by political participation, political communication, and political behavior, respectively. 2.The relationship between the Adhitthana-dhamma and the political awareness of VHVs showed a positive correlation at a moderate level (R = 0.803) with statistical significance at the 0.01 level. This indicated that a higher practice of Adhitthana-dhamma led to a higher level of political awareness. 3. The Buddhist integration of the four Adhitthana-dhamma principles: Panna, wisdom, Sacca, truth, Caga, sacrifice and Upasama, peace helped promote VHVs to have a clear understanding of their civic duties, critical thinking in news analysis, honesty, a volunteer spirit for society, and emotional maturity in resolving political conflicts through peaceful means.