Factors Analysis of Professional Muslim Women Community Health Communicators in a Multicultural Social context.: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach

Abstract

Background and Objectives The identity of Muslim Women Village Health Volunteers in the southern border provinces, which is a multicultural society, combined with the important role of community health communicators. It was found that there are still gaps to find answers from the research findings for appropriate competency development according to the research objectives, which are: 1.To study the components and indicators of professional community health communicators of female Muslim village health volunteers in the southern border provinces. 2. To verify the accuracy of the actual conditions and convey the components of professional community health communicators of the volunteer health workers in the Muslim women's villages in the southern border provinces.

Methods This mixed-methods study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods according to the research period. The process is carried out in 2 phases as follows: Phase 1 was conducted using qualitative research methods, through literature review and in-depth interviews with key informants using purposive sampling based on their characteristics, and quantitative research on the obtained components and indicators using survey factor analysis. In the second phase, it is a quantitative research by taking the research results of the components and indicators from the first phase to check the validity of the actual conditions with a group of knowledgeable people, by selecting 30 people, to confirm the components and indicators according to the research findings.

Results The analysis revealed four factors, comprising a total of 40 indicators: 1) cross-cultural communication, 2) community health literacy, 3) competencies for health communication and 4) communication psychology. All indicators were found to be accurate under actual conditions, with statistical significance at the .001 level. These findings contribute new insights for stakeholders and local communities

Conclusion and Recommendation This research answers both objectives and creates new knowledge from the research findings, which leads to the transfer of knowledge in the exchange forum with stakeholders to be used for development in real areas and to set development policies for further application in other areas.