• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 1979

A study was carried out from October 1977 to September 1978 in order to develope health care delively system which will meet to rural area in Korea. For the study objective a model of health care delivery system of Myun (township) area was developed which is adopted the net-work of village health voluntary worker who will play the role of bridge for communication related with health and illness between families or village people and health subcenter, and :he model health care delivery system net-work was set in the area of Soodong Myun, Yangju Gun. which is the rural health demonstration area of Ewha Womans University since 1972. The activities and attitude of 22 village health voluntary workers were observed and analized. during the study period. The results are as follows; 1. For the field activities of village health voluntary workers. a guide line which is described with specific behavioral objectives was developed and used for not only training of the workers but also evaluation of their field activities. 2. During the study period, the number of 971 village people were served primary health care service by village health voluntary worker and the service was classified largely into symptomatic medications (92%) and preventive measures (8%). 3. Comparative percentage of the number of 894 symptomatic cases cared by village health voluntary workers to 5,695 cases of patient treated by Soodong Health Subcenter during the same period was 15.7%. 4. Annual utility rate of village health voluntary worker by Myun total people was 16.1% but utility rate by Rie was varied from 38.2% to 2.8% which shown there were considerable differences in each Rie. In order to settle the village health care service, the obstructive factors of utility should be detected and their counter measure must be taken. 5. As the health need of village people increases, it is expected that the supplement of drug excluding present sit basic drugs is inevitable, but considering the ability of village health voluntary worker, the selection of additional drugs and education, plan should be carefully studied. 6. It is desirable that a financial resource for supplementary purchase of first aid kit, drugs and materials whould be alloted from village public fund like Saemaeul Women's Club fund, which has already practiced in a few villages in the study area. 7. As pointed out by village health voluntary workers, in order to improve the village health, village leaders should be in the center of it and the cooperation of whole village people is a core of healthful village development, and it is reasonable that the health subcenter backs up these voluntary health activities by village people in techniques. 8. It seems effective that a supplementary education for village health voluntary worker be accomplished by a planned education through regular meetings like worker's monthly meeting and irregular post guide when Myun Health Workers can handle the problems found during the round trip of villages. 9. It is desirable that village health voluntary workers, who are recommended by a civil voluntary organization like Saemael Woman's Club, are charged by natural villagc unit, are given a function of village health care service and used through basic education at health subcenter. 10. It is advisable that the village health voluntary worker's service is compensated not by a form of money, but by other way such as an exemption of medical fee of worker herself or her families in health subcenter can be one method. 11. Daily health activities of each village health voluntary worker should be reported to health subcenter by biweekly or monthly in order to get not only for basic data of the program but also for evaluation the program. It is recomandable that the report form should be simple and clear enough for village health voluntary worker to fill it effectively. 12. Village health care service should be developed into a Saemaeul Movement in which village people actively participate. For this, the appointed function of village health voluntary worker should be absorbed into those of living Environment Betterment Section or Family Planning Section of Saemaeul Women's Club or it is desirable that establish a new section, Village Health Promoting Section and make it involve the appointed functions of those sections mentioned above.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 1984

In order to develop some indicies for the evaluation of village health worker's activities and to find out personal characteristics and other factors that affect the activities, an interview survey was conducted to thirty seven village health workers (VHW) in Sunwon, Naega and Bulun townships in Kangwha county, where the Community Health Project of Yonsei University, College of Medicine, has been implemented for the past ten years. In addition, daily activity records of the VHW's were also analyzed. The results are summarized below: First, meeting attendance rates, number of regular family visits, number of antenatal care visits and number of family planning visits were identified as the most meaningful criterion for the evaluation of the village health worker's activities. Second, personal factors that significantly affect the village health worker's activities were identified as age, educational background, living with in-laws, religion, presence of preschool child in the family, holding leader's position of village woman's association concurrently, and duration serving as a VHW. The more aged and the more educated VHWs were the more effective. Those VHWs who were living with in-laws, without preschool child in the family, holding the leader's position of the village woman's association, and the longer service duration were the more effective. Other factors that affect the VHW's activities were the number of households in the target village and the number of natural villages in the target villages. It showed that the smaller the size of number of households and natural villages, the higher the degrees of the effectiveness of the VHW.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.377-385
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of 'village health worker training program' which aimed to build community participatory health promotion capacity of community leaders in villages of low developed country and to develop methods for further development of the program. Methods : The intervention group were 134 community leaders from 25 barangays (village). Control group were 149 form 4 barangays. Intervention group participated 3-day training program. Questionnaire was developed based on 'Health Promotion Capacity Checklist' which assessed capacity in 4 feathers; 'knowledge', 'skill', 'commitment', and 'resource'. Each feather was assessed in 4 point rating scale. Capacity scores between intervention group and control group were examined to identify changes between the pre- and post-intervention periods. A qualitative evaluation of the program was conducted to assess the appropriateness of the program. The program was conducted in Tuguegarao city, Philippine in January, 2009. Results : The result showed significant increases in the total health promotion capacity and each feather of health promotion capacities between pre and post assessment of intervention group. But there was no significant change in that of control group. Participants marked high level of satisfaction for preparedness, selection of main subjects and education method. Qualitative evaluation revealed that training program facilitated community participatory health promotion capacity of participants. Conclusions : This study suggested that the Village health worker training program is effective for building health promotion capacity of community leaders and it can be a main method for helping low developed countries with further development.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1993

The objective of this study is to review the role and function of the village health worker in the wake of the recent social changes in Korea. The stud}' also aimed at' elucidating' the characteristics of the village health worker organizations developed through community participation in this country. The study methods employed were: a review of literature and other existing information related to VHW's activities ; the use of Questionnaire and interview with VHW's on their activities in one selected county in 1992. The major findings obtained are as follows: 1. So far the community health care activities have been carried out by medical colleges, foreign aid agencies and religious organizations with a view to improving health care for the population in rural area. 2. The VHWs employed by the local community health services received remuneratiorin cash or in kind. However, presently no remuneration is paid to VHWs employed by the government village health projects. The training for VHWs is organized by County Health Center once a year for 1-2days regardless of pre-employment or refresher. 3. The needs of care for maternal and child health and family planning has been decline due to the decrease of the target population, but on the other hand, the needs of care by VHW for prevention of infectious diseases, health of the aging, management of geriatric diseases, prevention of poisoning of pesticides and environmental sanitation has beer increased. 4. It was felt strongly that the training for VHWs should be strengthened by means of developing a problem-solving oriented educational program in order to improve practical skills of VHWs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.107-120
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• 1979

In order to determine the knowledge of, attitudes to, and practice of housewives toward health care in a rural area, a survey with questionnaire was carried out with 87 housewives who were sampled randomly from 6 villages in Sudong Myun, from April 16th to 21st, 1979. The following results were obtained. 1. Of the housewives studied, 61.5% knew that B.C.G. is a vaccine for T.B prevention and 12.3% knew that D.P.T. is a vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. 2. The vaccination rate of the children under six-year of the housewives studied was: polio 83.1%, B.C.G. 75.4%, D.P.T. 66.2%, and measles 55.4% respectively. 3. The vaccination rate was higher in children in the area near from the health subcenter than in there of the area further away. 4. Out of 87 respondants, 87.5% knew one or more methods of contraception for spacing children. These were: loop 69.0%, oral pill 66.7% and condom 14.9% respectively. 5. Out of 87 respondants, 82.2% knew the methods of contraception for sterilization. These were: laparascopy 87.5% and vasectomy 16.9%. 6. Out of 87 respondants those who had experience using contraceptive methods were 70.1% and present users were 47.1%. 7. Contraception practice rate was higher in the group of housewives having middle school education or above than those having primary school education or less. 8. Functions of the health subcenter listed by respondants were: patients care 72.4%, family planning 31.0%, vaccination 23.0%, T.B. control 3.4%, health education 3.4%, infant birth delivery assistance 1.1% respectively. 9. Housewives who knew that there is a village health voluntary worker in their own village were 63.2%(55), and 58.2% of those who knew appreciated her activities. 10. Purposes of expenditure of Myun community health development funds listed by respondants were: aid for patient care 34.5%, aid for health subcenter operation 16.1%, and aid for Myun health development 6.9% respectively. 11. It seems that both of the distance from the health subcenter and the utility rate level of the village health voluntary worker are co-related to the B.C.G. vaccination rate of children. 12. It seems that both of the distance from the health subcenter and the utility rate level of the village health voluntary worker are not co-related to the rate of contraception practice.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.324-334
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• 2008

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop and execute the village heath worker(VHW) training program which based on short term overseas medical volunteer and medical mission. Methods: Through case studies of previous VHW program and review articles about the state of medical volunteer and medical mission, we developed the VHW training program. Pilot test of the program was carried out in Tugeugarao city, Phillipines on July, 2008. The subject were 32 persons from 15 villages around Tuguegarao city. After training we surveyed regarding the satisfaction of training and the degree of getting knowledge and skills. Results: Through article review, we got the common subjects of previous VHW training program and the limitations of overseas medical volunteer and medical mission. We developed VHW training program aiming to community health promotion through community participation and community change. The main text was "Where There Is No Doctor" of Hesperian Foundation. The program executed through 1 day intensive lecture and practice. The satisfaction of the program was 8.95±1.70 on 10 point rating scale. Conclusions: We strongly expect VHW training program can be available as new model of short overseas medical volunteer as well as medical mission if we could systemize it with the confirming subject before training , management after training and continuous support through connection with the field.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-111
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• 1992

Community involvement is to be the keystone of primary health care, Unfortunately, efforts to promote it failed in many countries. Author inquired into the reasons why such efforts fail, and the alternative strategies for effectively promoting it in Korean situation today. In doing so, the concept of community involvement is clarified as an amalgamation of two different concepts; one is that of the community development, and the other is that of approaches for overcoming the alienation of the people from the health care process. Stategies of community involvement in Korea so far followed the line of the community development, e.g. village health worker. It loses, however, the feasibility as Korea has experinced so cial and economic developpment. The strategies of the second line of thought is now more feasible; empowering the people by providing more information and enhancing comitment to health, improving acceptabilty of community involvemt on the part of the health professionals and the bureaucrats, and building the mechanism of community involvement into the health policy-making process.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.6-23
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• 1991

The method of this study is as follows : First, the interview with the civil servants concerned. Second, the review of the pertinent public ledgers. Third, the review of the existing reference. The results of this study are as follows. 1) The health education system in Korea has only the head. But it does not have the trunk and the limbs that it can move with. 2) Health educator should have the essential work that is the planning and coordinating work of intersectoral health education programs. They should also have the trust works from other sectors. 3) The proposition in the health education policy is as follows: First, the department or section of health education should be made newly in the public health organization. Second, at the level of province(Do) and county(Gun), the health educator should be stationed. Third, most training courses of health care members should involve health education subjects. Fourth, the health center at the level of county(Gun) should have a minimum material and audio-visual equipment of health education. Fifth, regular health education should be put into practice through local broadcast or CATV etc.. Sixth, school health education should be consolidated. Seventh, village health worker(nurse) should be stationed at the level of health center, so that he(she) can work as health educator. 4) The ultimate model of health education system is that of Fig. 5. But it is impossible to change the system synoptically. At first health educator should be stationed at health center. And then the system should be gradually organized.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 1979

The objectives of this study were to identify the determinants of the 1. Home visiting activities by FHWs 2. Utilization of village Family Health Workers(FHWs) 3. Attitudes towards FHWs 4. Knowledge about FHW's activities] among housewives in the Kang Wha Community Health Project area This study was analysed by using path analysis Exogenous variables were 1. Distance between the housewives' houses and that of their local FHW 2. Duration of work of each FHW as FHW in her village 3. Number of preschool children in the households Endogenous variables were 1. Home visiting frequency to each household by FHW 2. Knowledge about FHW's activities 3. Attitude towards FHWs 4. Utilization of FHW] by the housewives The results were as follows: The shorter the distance between client's and FHW's house, the higher the number of preschool children in the household, and the longer the duration of work of FHW as FHW, the higher is the number of her household visits in a given time span. The more frequently the FHW visits a household and the higher the knowledge about FHW's activities in the household, the more positive is the attitude of the housewives to the FHW and the more frequently she visits and utilizes the FHW on her own initiative.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 1978

This study was designed to analyse effects of Family Health Workers' activities on the performance of a child immunization program as part of the evaluative research in the community health demonstration project in Kang Wha. Frequent shortcomings of evaluative research are problems in setting evaluative indices, difficulties in interpreting influences of socioeconomic changes due to lack of control and failure of demonstrating association between activity input and program performance. Specific objectives of this study was to improve the frequent shortcoming of evaluative research by isolating the effects of Family Health Workers' activities on the performance of the program through controlling other variables which also influenced the program performance. The target population consisted of 1240 children who were born between Jan. 1971 and Dec. 1975 in Sunwon Myun, and Naega Myun in Kwang Wha Gun, Kyonggi Province. The data were collected in part through 20 Family Health Workers who interviewed the mothers of these children in their villages during Nov. 1977. Part of the data were obtained by summarizing Family Health Workers daily activity records. All data were grouped for each birth cohort according to the 20 villages. Dependent variable of the model is the measle immuinization rate of each village and the independent variables are characteristics of baby, mother, household, travel time to the health subcenter, to Kang Wha Town, and the mean member of visits to the household by Family Health Workers as well as their other related activities and the year of birth of children according to village. The model was analysed by stepwise multiple regression technique. The summarized results show that overall $R^2$ were 39.3% and mean number of Family Health Worker household visits, mean age of mother and mean economic status were significant variables in explaining the immunization rate. Therefore Family Health Workers' activities are one of the significant variables in influencing the increased immunization rate of children in villages of the project area.