Buddhist monks and primary health care: A case study of the primary health care training programme during 1979-1983.

ABSTRACT

During the year 1979-1983, 1376 Buddhist monks from rural area of the central region had attended “the Primary Health Care Training Programme” conducted by the Folk Doctor Foundation. 63.9 percent of them were more than 40 years old and 54.6 percent of them had entered the priesthood for more than 20 years. 55.6 percent had ever taken care of the sick people by western medicines as well as traditional medicines. They also had some experiences in giving first aid to the injured people. 45.9 percent had ever read books and journals related to health. 61.2 percent were familiar to doctors and health personnels in their locality. After the training, they could play roles in health education, sanitation, disease prevention, and nutrition, the use of common household medicines and herbal medicines and community development.