Development of a Surveillance, Prevention, and Control Model for Leptospirosis in Kong Ra District, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

This participatory action research aimed to develop a model for surveillance, prevention, and control of leptospirosis in Kong Ra District, Phatthalung Province, Thailand. The participatory process involved four key steps: problem analysis, planning and implementation, model development through stakeholder collaboration, and simultaneous evaluation during implementation. The resulting operational model comprises six main components: 1) Joint problem identification with stakeholders, 2) Feedback of disease surveillance data to the community, health workers, and village health volunteers (VHVs), 3) Risk communication and knowledge transfer to target populations, 4) Adjustment of health service systems focusing on early treatment measures, including the provision of doxycycline at primary care units and proactive risk assessment, 5) Strengthening stakeholder participation, including local pharmacies and the public sector, to raise awareness and co-develop prevention and control strategies, and 6) Enhancing self-care capacity and community involvement in disease surveillance, risk communication, environmental sanitation, and response during flood events—led by VHVs and coordinated with local health authorities. After six months of implementation, the number of reported leptospirosis cases declined, and no deaths were recorded. The model demonstrates potential for replication in other communities with similar socio-environmental contexts and serves as a sustainable, community-driven approach to leptospirosis prevention and control.