Childhood diarrhoea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Thailand. During April 1988-April 1990, a study was conducted to evaluate participatory action research as a method of intervening on unhygienic practices in two communities in the Klong Toey slum of Bangkok (intervention group) and compared these practices in two other communities of the same slum where there was no intervention (control group). The following variables were compared in two groups: hygiene behaviour and factors associated with participation of community leaders and mothers with children aged less than five years. Two hundred and twenty-one mothers of the original 606 (36%) were still available at the end of the study. It was found that the mothers in the intervention groups were more likely to wash their hands before feeding and use cupboards and covered containers for keeping food. Several factors negatively affected community participation: matters concerning the slum culture and organization, community leadership, family problems, occupational problems, and physical environment of the community. The conclusions of the study are limited because of the considerable proportion of the subjects that was lost to follow-up. The study points at some of the methodological issues when conducting research in challenging and difficult to reach communities that have important health problems.
PIP: Childhood diarrhea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Thailand. During April 1988-April 1990, a study was conducted to evaluate participatory action research as a method intervening upon unhygienic practices in 2 communities in the Klong Toey slum of Bangkok. Those practices were compared with those in 2 other communities of the same slum in which there was no intervention. The intervention group was provided with community education, participation, and health education programs. The following variables were compared: hygiene behavior and factors associated with participation of community leaders and mothers with children under age 5 years. 221 mothers of the original 606 (36%) were still available at the end of the study. Mothers in the intervention groups were more likely to wash their hands before feeding and use cupboards and covered containers for keeping food. The following factors adversely affected community participation: matters concerning the slum culture and organization, community leadership, family problems, occupational problems, and the physical environment of the community.