Manajemen Kesehatan dalam Peningkatan Higiene Anak Pengungsi Rohingya di Ratchaburi, Thailand

Abstract

The humanitarian crisis experienced by the Rohingya ethnic group has led to a significant increase in the number of refugees in Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Refugee children represent a vulnerable population at high risk of health problems, particularly those related to personal hygiene, such as hair cleanliness. Limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation facilities, and insufficient knowledge contribute to a high risk of head lice infestation and scalp disorders. This community service program aimed to improve the knowledge, skills, and hygiene behaviors of refugee children through health education and hair hygiene demonstration interventions. The study employed an educational and participatory approach involving 35 children aged 6–12 years in a refugee school in Ratchaburi, Thailand. The interventions included health education sessions, demonstrations of proper hair hygiene practices, pre-test and post-test assessments, as well as observations of skills and hygiene behaviors. The results indicated a significant improvement in participants’ knowledge, with the mean score increasing from 56.3 to 82.7, and 85.7% of participants showing improvement. Practical skills also improved, with 80% of participants able to wash their hair correctly and 85.7% able to use shampoo appropriately. In addition, positive changes in hygiene behavior were observed, as the frequency of hair washing ≥2–3 times per week increased from 34.3% to 70%. in conclusion, the combination of health education and demonstration methods is effective in improving the knowledge, skills, and hygiene behaviors of refugee children. However, limited facilities remain a challenge for sustaining hygiene practices