Healthy public policy development using health impact assessment and adaptation of flash flood and mudslide victims in Thailand

The objective of this participatory action research was to develop healthy public policy through participation theory and appreciation influence control by using the data from health impact assessment and adaptation of people from flash flood and mudslide disasters in Thailand. Data were collected by using interview document. The sample of this study consisted of 600 families selected by systematic random sampling. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

            The research results revealed that the impact on physical health of the most people were injuries and disabilities (28.0%), damage housing (99.8%). Regarding to the impact on mental health, 66.5% of people felt anxiety and seemed fretful with a heavy rain. For social impact, it was found that 40.5% of people felt that the disaster created environmental problems and 30.8% were not satisfied with the relief efforts of the government. For the spiritual health impact, 49.2% of people felt the loss of the historic city spirituality and culture.  The level of adaptation was found at a high level on accept losses, reduced losses and choose to change by relieve losses. These finding points lead into healthy public policy development through stakeholder participation and participatory learning. The community analyzed a situation, knew their weak point, prominent point and social characteristic. The people could plan to develop their community and organize self-help group for healthy public policy development. This development policy agreed with value judgment and local culture which focus on justice, equality and protect a benefit of community.

This research raised health development of human and social, health dimension value of social especially community spiritual, community support which lead into sustainable and consecutively policy. The result of this research could apply with the other areas obtained the flash flood and mudslide disasters.