Abstract:
Health problems such as non-communicable diseases occur in the Muslim
community which are caused by salty and fatty food consumption behavior, and a lack of
exercise. The diseases include diabetes and hypertension. To promote and develop health
in the Muslim community, it is necessary to understand the communitys culture. This
research was an action research which aimed at enhancing the community self-managed
for health development. The researcher made comparisons regarding community
participation, food consumption behavior, exercise and mental health in Ban Na Teen
Community, Tambon Ao-Nang, Muang District, Krabi Province before and after the
interventions. The study lasted for 10 months from April 2007 until January 2008 with
both qualitative and quantitative data collection. The study revealed that people in the
community worked cooperatively among their network, and regarded community-based
tourism as their joint target of development. The interventions in the community included
learning and sharing ideas and experiences among community key figures, project
planning for health promotion and development in line with the Muslim communitys
culture, encouragement for Tambon Administration Organization to support many
activities. As a result, community self-managed of 22 community key figures, after the
interventions was better than before the interventions significantly (p = .003), the
community participation represented by 107 households after the intervention was better
than before the interventions significantly (p = .002). Regarding food consumption
behavior, exercise and mental health of 90 housewives, the result before and after the
interventions showed a statistically significant difference (p < .001). Regarding the food
consumption behavior of 23 elderly people, the results before and after the interventions
were not different, whereas exercise behavior and mental health before and after the
operation showed a statistically significant difference (p < .05). It is advisable to enhance
self-managed community to become an important mechanism for sustainable health
promotion and development in the community. In addition, religious leaders and public
health officials should take a role as facilitators and learn together with the community
about the change in food consumption behavior and exercise of housewives and elderly
people in line with the communitys culture in order to reduce the risk of diseases such as
diabetes and hypertension.