The Role of Community Leaders and the Development Process for Smoke-free and Alcohol–free Community in Mueang Lamphun District, Lamphun Province : A Case Study of “The Lamphun Smoke-free and Alcohol–free Project”

Abstract

This study is an action research aimed to study the role of the community leader and to study the development process for smoke–free and alcohol–free under the context of community.  The area of the study was the targeted community in Mueang Lamphun District, Lamphun Province within “The Lamphun Smoke–free and Alcohol–free Project in 2017”. Participants were 29 community leaders whom volunteered to participated in the research. The data of this research was collected by participating observation in the two-round planning and reflection. The data of the community environment were collected through the participated observation. Semi-structured interview was used for interviewing the community leaders and community members. The content analysis followed by the typological analysis were used to analyze the data within dimensions of the community developing for smoke–free and alcohol-free

The results found that (1) The perception of leader role among community leaders was influent by activities under the Lamphun Smoke–free and Alcohol-Free Project. According to the leaders’ considerations on the community structure, their role would lead to smoke–free and alcohol-free development plans that was applicable and could affect the community.  (2) The development process of smoke–free and alcohol–free in community were as following.  Firstly, the community team were created to monitor and control smoking and alcohol use.  By concerning about the conflict of implement the law enforcement, the community leaders help to create the agreement that community member can accept.  The new agreement which contain the essence of the law then were announced to everyone in the community.  Secondly, alcohol free and smoke–free public areas were created. Thirdly, leaders’ houses were promoted and announced as smoke–free and alcohol free places. Fourthly, the community teams were formed for monitoring the convenient shops in order to ensure that the shops legally sell the cigarettes and alcohols. Fifth, activities for creating the awareness and persuading the community’s members were conducted.

From creating community agreement, it showed that at the community level, it had served to encourage people to follow the law. Therefore, if agencies at the district level enforces the law to support the community agreement, Smoking and alcohol control will be more complete.