The Efficacy of Utilizing the First 1000 Days of Life Manual for Implementing the Miracle First 1000 Days of Life Project in Health Region 9

Abstract

          The aims of this research and development study were 1) To develop a manual of the first 1,000 days of life to implement the Miraculous Project 1,000 First Days of Life in Health Region 9;  2) To study the efficacy of utilizing the First 1,000 Days of Life Manual for implementing the Miracle First 1,000 Days of Life Project in Health Region 9. The study areas included Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram and Surin province. The 217 Child and Family Care Team (CFT) in health region 9 were selected by simple random sampling and 37 experts by purposive. Data were collected from questionnaires and focus groups discussions between January and June 2022. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test. Content analysis was used in qualitative data.

Results: The quality inspection of the First 1,000 Days of Life Manual in the Miraculous First 1,000 Days of Life Project from experts in appropriateness and consistency of the content were appropriate at a high level ( = 3.71, S.D. = 0.78). The IOC value is equal to 1 that can be used. The CFT were satisfied with the First 1,000 Days of Life Manual in overall at the highest level (  = 3.86, S.D =0.86). After using the Manual, the prevalence of early antenatal care visit, the prevalence of 5 antenatal care visits, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, the prevalence of children aged 9 months-2 years received iron-fortified liquids, the prevalence of appropriately development children aged 0-2 years, and the prevalence of proportional heigh for weight children aged 0-2 years were significantly increased at the 0.05 level. The prevalence of low birth weight infant (less than 2,500 grams) was significantly decreased at the 0.05 level. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of anemia in pregnant woman.

Conclusion: The First 1,000 Days of Life Manual in health region 9 is effective in implementing the Miraculous First 1,000 Days of Life Project. Thus, the results should be expanded to be used in other areas.