Achievement of Surin Sweet Enough Network

Objectives: this study aimed to describe 1) the organizational improvement during 2006 and 2008; 2) prime knowledge construction; and 3) key outcomes on environmental and oral health status changes during this period.

Methods: On process evaluation, Le Moigne's five dimensions on structural, functional, evolutionary, contextual and teleological, were used as domains for the analyses. On outcome evaluation, immediate outcomes on the coverage of soft drink free schools and kindergartens and health promoting hospitals were assessed. On oral health status, data from annual pathfinder oral health surveys in Surin Province during these three years were used.

Results: In three years Surin Sweet Enough Network extended to all districts in Surin Province, starting from 6 districts in 2006 to all 17 districts in 2008. The Network was developed based on equal partnership between the community of each district and stakeholders. Members of the coalition comprised profit and nonprofit locals, governmental and nongovernmental sectors including various health disciplines, education, local administration as well as entrepreneurs. The proportion of budget drawn locally and by the Thai Health Foundation to support the implementation of activities of the coalition increased from about one to one in 2006 to more than six times in 2008. The coverage of soft drink free schools and kindergartens was about 50% (375 of 760 schools). Six public community hospitals were certified as health promoting hospitals. Dental caries free among three years old children increased from 29% in 2006 to 40% in 2008.

Conclusions: A social programming like Surin Sweet Enough Network has the potential to advocate for healthy environment through a strong partnership among stakeholders, which likely affect life-styles and health status.