Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health (social science), Applied Psychology, Social Sciences
28
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Validation of a Sexual Health Literacy Scale for Secondary School Students in High-Risk Area of Thailand Thai Journal of Public Health, 2026
The 21st-century skills among public health undergraduate students in autonomous universities in Thailand after the COVID-19 pandemic Suphawadee Panthumas, Kaung Zaw, Wirin Kittipichai, and Journal of Public Health and Development, 2025 Adopting new skills is essential for success in the 21st century, especially in education and public health. As career transitions and lifelong learning increase, educational institutions are adapting their approaches. They are integrating technology and resources to help students apply knowledge effectively. This cross-sectional study employed stratified-cluster random sampling approach to assess 21st-century skills and six related factors—academic year, esteem for oneself, esteem for others, active learning, qualities of effective teachers, and learning environment—among 537 second- to fourth-year undergraduate public health students from four autonomous universities in Thailand. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires between January and March 2023. The reliability coefficients of the scales ranged from 0.78 to 0.93. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression, with the significance level set at less than 0.05. Research findings indicated that 60.5% of students had high levels of 21st-century skills, while 39.5% had moderate levels. Fourth-year students scored higher on these skills compared to those in the second and third years. Five factors, including two subscales of self-esteem and three dimensions of teaching and learning management during the COVID-19 pandemic, were identified as predictors of 21st-century skills, accounting for 54.2% of the variance. To provide early-year students with the necessary skills and opportunities for lifelong learning, curriculum administrators should promote activities that enhance 21st-century skills, boost self-esteem, and provide adequate support for learners, instructors, and learning environments.
Opportunities and challenges for post-prison women employed as caregivers for the elderly in Thailand Wirin Kittipichai, Suphawadee Panthumas, Nithirat Boontanon Journal of Public Health and Development, 2025 This study seeks to explore the perspectives of elderly care organizations and households with elderly members concerning the employment of post-prison women as caregivers for the elderly. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with representatives from 27 elderly care centers and questionnaire interviews with representatives of 560 households in five areas where women’s correctional institutes are located in Thailand. The findings revealed that 19 enterprise executives and 74 percent of household representatives held similar views on this issue. Specifically, among 21 elderly care centers, there was a tendency to hire post-prison women to work as caregivers. Conversely, it is worth noting that this issue is sensitive both on an individual level and for society as a whole. Therefore, it was advised against having former prisoners engage in home-based elder care. This recommendation stemmed from concerns that it could compromise the trust and safety of service users. Meanwhile, household representatives believed that individuals with a history of serious crimes should not be involved in caregiving. This was considered a crucial factor in determining whether to opt for nursing home services or hire caregivers for elderly individuals receiving care at home. Therefore, it is recommended to establish a coordination center for various departments to collaborate. This center would oversee tasks including identifying qualified post-prison women, providing training courses for elderly caregivers, engaging in public relations, and coordinating with agencies seeking to hire caregivers. This initiative aims to facilitate the employment of women with previous convictions, empowering them to achieve sustainable livelihoods.
The Phenomenon of the Root Causes of Teenage Pregnancy in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study of the Family Functioning Putri Eka Sejati, K. Chamroonsawasdi, Wirin Kittipichai, Korravarn Yodmai Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 2024 Background: Teenage pregnancy (TP) in Indonesia is still high and contributes to maternal and infant mortality. This study explores the role of family functioning (FF) in preventing TP. Methods: This qualitative research used in-depth interviews with three mother-daughter dyads with TP experience, three mother-daughter dyads without TP experience, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with four school teachers and four HCPs (Health Care Provider) at the Puskesmas. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The research results show that the root causes of TP related to poor FF practice were: 1) the mother was not involved in solving the daughter's sexual problem, 2) the mother was not confident in sexual communication, 3) poor relationships with her daughter, 4) mother's lack of involvement in the daughter's sexual behaviour, and 5) lack of control daughter’s behaviour. Additional causes are 1) Weak school policies and low teacher confidence in providing CSE and 2) Lack of implementation of YFHS (Youth-friendly health services) at the Puskesmas. Conclusion: The themes regarding the root causes of TP start from individual factors, maternal low knowledge, and awareness about Sexual Health for her daughter; secondly, interpersonal factors, namely the mother's poor practice in implementing the six dimensions of FF, including the mother's lack of involvement in solving problems, poor communication on the prevention of daughter’s sexual risk behaviour due to insufficient affective responsiveness and affective involvement, and poor monitoring and control of the daughters' sexual risk behaviour. The organizational and policy factors are inadequate implementation of CSE (Comprehensive Sexuality Education) in schools due to weak policies and lack of CSE guidelines, and a lack of implementation of YFHS in health facilities due to low family involvement and lack of HCP capacity building.
Voices from Rural Thailand: Understanding the Root Causes of Adolescent Pregnancy Laisuwannachart Panjarut, Kanittha Chamroonsawasdi, Paranee Vatanasomboon, Wirin Kittipichai Public Health of Indonesia, 2024 Background: Adolescent pregnancy is an important global health concern. Almost 21 million adolescent women between the ages of 15 and 19 in developing countries become pregnant, and approximately 12 million of them give birth annually. Adolescent pregnancy has consequences for the health, social, and economic outcomes of adolescent women, their babies, and their families. Those in rural areas are particularly vulnerable due to poverty, inadequate education, limited access to contraception, and traditional beliefs. Objective:This qualitative study aims to explore the root causes of adolescent pregnancy in rural Thailand. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from August to September 2023. We collected data through in-depth interviews with three mother-daughter dyads, whose daughters experienced adolescent pregnancy, and focus group discussions among four healthcare providers and four school teachers. We transcribed the data verbatim and applied thematic analysis. Results: The findings showed that the root causes of adolescent pregnancy include: 1) inadequate problem-solving skills to prevent adolescent pregnancy; 2) ineffective sexual communication; 3) poor family relationships; and 4) poor behavior control to prevent adolescent pregnancy. Conclusion:Our findings reveal the root causes of adolescent pregnancy in rural Thailand. Understanding these factors allows us to better address the unique challenges faced by adolescents in these communities. We should focus on these factors to design tailored interventions and involve multilevel stakeholders, including family, school, and healthcare services to prevent adolescent pregnancy. Keywords: Adolescent pregnancy; family functioning; mother-daughter dyads; The root causes; Thailand
Relationship between Perceived Organizational Support, Empowerment and Organizational Commitment of Health Workers at Sub-District Health Promoting Hospitals in Suphanburi Province, Thailand Thai Journal of Public Health, 2024
Validation of the 21st Century Skills Assessment Scale for public health students in Thailand: a methodological study Suphawadee Panthumas, Kaung Zaw, Wirin Kittipichai Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 2024 Purpose This study aimed to develop and validate the 21st Century Skills Assessment Scale (21CSAS) for Thai public health (PH) undergraduate students using the Partnership for 21st Century Skills framework. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 727 first- to fourth-year PH undergraduate students from 4 autonomous universities in Thailand. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires between January and March 2023. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to explore the underlying dimensions of 21CSAS, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the hypothesized factor structure using Mplus software (Muthén & Muthén). Reliability and item discrimination were assessed using Cronbach’s α and the corrected item-total correlation, respectively. Results EFA performed on a dataset of 300 students revealed a 20-item scale with a 6-factor structure: (1) creativity and innovation; (2) critical thinking and problem-solving; (3) information, media, and technology; (4) communication and collaboration; (5) initiative and self-direction; and (6) social and cross-cultural skills. The rotated eigenvalues ranged from 2.12 to 1.73. CFA performed on another dataset of 427 students confirmed a good model fit (χ2/degrees of freedom=2.67, comparative fit index=0.93, Tucker-Lewis index=0.91, root mean square error of approximation=0.06, standardized root mean square residual=0.06), explaining 34%–71% of variance in the items. Item loadings ranged from 0.58 to 0.84. The 21CSAS had a Cronbach’s α of 0.92. Conclusion The 21CSAS proved be a valid and reliable tool for assessing 21st century skills among Thai PH undergraduate students. These findings provide insights for educational system to inform policy, practice, and research regarding 21st-century skills among undergraduate students.
Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Violence against Women among Myanmar Migrant Women in Thailand Kaung Zaw, Wirin Kittipichai, Kanittha Chamroonsawasdi, Arpaporn Powwattana Asian Journal of Social Health and Behavior, 2024 Introduction: Violence against women (VAW) is a serious human rights violation with significant implications for public health. VAW affects the well-being of women, children, and families. This study aims to develop and validate a scale specifically designed for identifying and assisting migrant women who have experienced violence. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using stratified sampling was conducted among 295 Myanmar migrant women in Thailand. Violence among these women was assessed using self-administered questionnaires with data collection taking 15–20 min per participant between September and December 2023. The construct validity of the Violence against Migrant Women Scale (VAMWS) was confirmed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) estimated by weighted least squares means and variance with Geomin rotation in Mplus software. Results: The EFA revealed a 13-item scale with a four-factor structure that fit the data exceptionally well, as indicated by the high comparative fit index of 0.99 and low root mean square error of approximation value of 0.02. Communalities ranged from 0.58 to 0.99 and rotated factor correlations between 0.36 and 0.53. The four dimensions were as follows: F1 – physical (4 items, loadings 0.51–0.73), F2 – sexual (2 items, loadings 0.66–0.99), F3 – psychological (3 items, loadings 0.57–0.73), and F4 – economic (3 items, loadings 0.50–0.78). VAMWS had Cronbach’s alpha of 0.90 and corrected item–total correlation values from 0.53 to 0.74. Physical violence, experienced by 50% of respondents, was most common, primarily by spouses, then siblings, acquaintances, employers, parents, and friends. Conclusion: VAMWS is applicable for assessing violence prevalence across multiple sectors, including health care, social services, law enforcement, and future research endeavors.
Oral Hygiene Behaviors and Oral Health Literacy Among Informal Thai Workers in Rural Areas Nattakarn Phakayawong, Wirin Kittipichai Journal of Education and Community Health, 2023 Background: Informal Thai workers experience disparities in accessing health services. Improper oral healthcare behavior is the main cause of oral diseases. Promoting oral health literacy (OHL) is an essential strategy for achieving positive oral health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate OHL, oral hygiene behavior (OHB), and associated factors of OHB among informal Thai workers in a rural context. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted among 274 informal Thai workers aged 20–59 years. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews with questionnaires. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the OHL scale was 0.86. Data were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The findings revealed that 138 of the participants (50.4%) had proper OHB, and 46.4% had proficiency in overall OHL. Seven factors were significantly associated with OHB, namely, educational attainment, the job sector, the sufficiency of family income, and three OHL dimensions, including understand, appraise, and apply. However, three predictors of proper OHB were those who attained secondary school and higher education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.31–3.85) and OHL proficiency in the understand and appraise components (AOR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.25–4.00 and AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.11–3.52, respectively). Conclusion: Therefore, public health dental care units should organize activities to improve workers’ capacity and ability to exhibit OHB. The OHL promotion program should be developed with an emphasis on providing the public with a detailed understanding of oral hygiene. Dental health education is enhanced by inquiring, verifying, and looking at skills to help them gain the skills and confidence to provide consistent oral care.
Internet Usage Behaviors in the New Normal Era among High School Students in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand Thai Journal of Public Health, 2022
Challenges and obstacles of mother-daughter sexual communication among Thai rural communities: An exploratory study Journal of Public Health and Development, 2021
Gender roles, physical and sexual violence prevention in primary extend to secondary school in Samutsakorn province, Thailand Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 2010
Substance-dependence rehab treatment in Thailand: a meta analysis. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand Chotmaihet Thangphaet, 2009
