The Process of Folk Health Management by Using Reum Mamuad Activities of Thai-Khmer Ethnic Groups in Sisaket Province

Abstract

The health system is considered a subsystem of the social system. There is a connection between various parts to help and support people in society to be in good health. This study was aimed at understanding the beliefs of Thai-Khmer ethnic groups in Sisaket Province about Reum Mamuad activities and their decision-making process to choose modern medicines or folk health management processes by using Reum Mamuad activities. Mixed-methods research was used for data collection. The study area included six villages of Thai-Khmer ethnic groups, and the key informants were 139 ethnic people by purposive sampling. According to the study results, 1) about belief, it was found that only 38.14% of the informants completely believed that “Reum Mamuad activities could cure or heal the patients,” so the patients’ families arranged Reum Mamuad activities. This is consistent with the fact that “Reum Mamuad activities are not arranged for entertainment, but they are necessary activities to be arranged”. There are four necessary causes for “Reum Mamuad activities: illness, mental disorders, worship, and fulfilling one’s vow. And 2) regarding the decision-making process to choose modern medicine or folk health management by using Reum Mamuad activities, it was found that more than 80% of the informants who had used Reum Mamuad activities as a tool for health management usually firstly chose modern medicine for curing their sickness.