The Study of Public Health Social Work Practice in Public Health Center, Health Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to 1) examine the practice of public health social work in  the Public Health Center, Health Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)  2)investigate the problems of public health social work and 3) analyze the guidelines for the development of public health social work. The methodology of this study was qualitative research with the samples size of 75 people from executive high level, executive primary level and operational level as a social workers of Health Department. The data were collected from the in-depth interviews of 8 executives and from the focus groups of 68 social workers, divided into 6 groups. The data were analyzed by content analysis. The results found that the work of the public health social work in the Public Health Center covers the dimensions of mental, social and spiritual healthcare that are combined to physical health. It is part of primary health care service in BMA which covers health promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Public health social workers have both professional and administrative roles in Public Health Centers. The problem of the operation was found from structural problems, the workforce of social workers is inconsistent with the workload, situation and health system management. Guidelines for the development of public health social work, therefore, should be focused on clients, leadership, participation, process, improvement and data-based which are the components of the Total Quality Management (TQM). Thus, it was suggested to develop standards for public health social work practice in Public Health Center as tools and mechanisms that will lead to the further development of public health social work.