Traffic injury in northern Thailand in 2011-2013: A cross sectional survey

Thailand has been facing traffic injuries problem leads to spending large amounts of money on medical and public health resources every year. A cross-sectional study design aimed to explain the characteristics of traffic injury in northern Thailand during 2011-2013. Subjects were recruited from 8 hospitals and 7 police stations from northern Thailand. Data regarding to age, sex, religion, marital status, year of getting injury, time of getting injury, type of vehicles, alcohol used, hospital admission, medical cost, treatment outcomes, and favorite areas of injury occurrences were collected. Totally 35,925 caseswere reported between 2011 and 2013 from eight hospitals in northern Thailand. The majority age was 16-25 years old (28.0%), followed by 26-35 years old (17.4%). The peak period of traffic injuries occurred in two episodes; December to January (32.8%), and April to May (36.7%). The major vehicle was motorcycle (78.9%), and followed by car and truck (21.1%). 29.3% had been admitted in a hospital, and 82.3% were admitted at a hospital less than 7 days, and 82.0% were having a medical cost ≤ 5,000 baht. Regarding data from seven police stations: 2,339 cases were collected for the analysis. 71.4% were males, 27.6% were aged 16-25 years old, 60.9% were married, 92.0% were Buddhists. The main type of vehicle was a car (56.6%), 67.3% had their injury on the highways, 60.7% had injury during the daytime (06.00 am.-06.00 pm.), and 13.1% drank alcohol. There was no information linking system between a hospital and a police station. Thailand needs effective and specific health promoting programs for reducing the traffic accident particularly in young adults (16-25 years old) populations

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Abnormal Cervical Cell among the Hmong and Mien Hill Tribe Women in Pha Yao Province, Thailand

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and to determine factor associated with abnormal cervical cell among the Hmong and Mien hill tribe women. Methods: A cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence and to determine the factors associated with abnormal cervical cell among the Hmong and Mien hill tribe women living in Pha Yao province, Thailand was conducted. The data from validated questionnaires and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test results were collected. Logistic regression was used to detect the associations between variables and abnormal cervical cell at the significant level of alpha = 0.05. Results: Totally, 450 Hmong and Mien women were recruited into the analysis. The overall prevalence of abnormal cervical cell was 2.2%; 1.2% were atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), 0.4% were atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), 0.4% were cervical intraepithelium neoplasia-I (CIN-I) and 0.2% were cervical intraepithelium neoplasia-II (CIN-II). Two variables, the number of their sexual partners and the number of husbands’ sexual partners, were significantly associated with abnormal cervical cell. The women who had ≥ 4 sexual partners had a 7.09 times (95%CI=1.85-27.17) more likely to have abnormal cervical cell than those who had < 4 sexual partners. The women whose husbands had ≥ 4 partners had a 5.63 times (95%CI=1.51-20.90) more likely to have abnormal cervical cell than those whose husbands had < 4 sexual partners. Conclusion: The number of sexual partners is significantly associated with abnormal cervical cell among the Hmong and Mien hill tribe women. Health interventions regarding safe sex should be promoted in the hill tribe people

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Abnormal Cervical Cell among the Hmong and Mien Hill Tribe Women in Pha Yao Province, Thailand

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and to determine factor associated with abnormal cervical cell among the Hmong and Mien hill tribe women. Methods: A cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence and to determine the factors associated with abnormal cervical cell among the Hmong and Mien hill tribe women living in Pha Yao province, Thailand was conducted. The data from validated questionnaires and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test results were collected. Logistic regression was used to detect the associations between variables and abnormal cervical cell at the significant level of alpha = 0.05. Results: Totally, 450 Hmong and Mien women were recruited into the analysis. The overall prevalence of abnormal cervical cell was 2.2%; 1.2% were atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), 0.4% were atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), 0.4% were cervical intraepithelium neoplasia-I (CIN-I) and 0.2% were cervical intraepithelium neoplasia-II (CIN-II). Two variables, the number of their sexual partners and the number of husbands’ sexual partners, were significantly associated with abnormal cervical cell. The women who had ≥ 4 sexual partners had a 7.09 times (95%CI=1.85-27.17) more likely to have abnormal cervical cell than those who had < 4 sexual partners. The women whose husbands had ≥ 4 partners had a 5.63 times (95%CI=1.51-20.90) more likely to have abnormal cervical cell than those whose husbands had < 4 sexual partners. Conclusion: The number of sexual partners is significantly associated with abnormal cervical cell among the Hmong and Mien hill tribe women. Health interventions regarding safe sex should be promoted in the hill tribe people

SWOT Analysis for Preliminary Study of Municipal Waste Management Toward a Zero Waste Highland Community in Northern Thailand

This research aims to investigate the situation of municipal waste management in the highlands of Chiang Rai, Thailand in order to formulate a preliminary strategic action plan for efficient management of municipal solid waste. In-depth interviews, questionnaires and discussions between government officers and community residents were conducted, in addition to analysis of the composition of solid waste in the municipality. SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of current municipal waste management was performed and considered together with the assessment indicators of zero waste management: geo-administrative, socio-cultural, management, environment, economic, organization and governance and policy, in order to identify key domains and locally relevant indicators. The results pointed to two main weaknesses of municipal waste management: lack of knowledge, combined with low levels of implementation of best practice in waste management. This was attributed mainly to language barriers impeding knowledge exchange. To improve the prospects for a zero-waste community in these highland areas, there is a need to improve administration and the social attitudes by promoting the 3Rs concept and initiating waste utilization projects to raise awareness and consciousness within local communities. Importantly, imparting the knowledge of waste management using effective parent language for communication is a key success factor for enhancing the effectiveness of municipal waste management

Waste Composition Evaluation for Solid Waste Management Guideline in Highland Rural Tourist Area in Thailand

This study investigated municipal solid waste generation rate and its composition including the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on municipal solid waste (MSW) management of highland rural tourist area in Chiang Rai Province, Mae Salong Nok Sub-district, Thailand in order to propose the guidelines for effective MSW in rural tourist areas. Samples of MSW were collected during weekdays and several weekends, and separated into 4 categories: general, recyclable, organic and hazardous waste. About 40 % of the MSW consisted of organic waste; plastic bags were widely present, comprising more than 60 % of the mass of the general waste group. Level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on MSW was evaluated using questionnaires. While respondents scored 80 % and 76 %, respectively, on their level of knowledge of, and attitude to MSW, practice fell far short at only 37 %. The results led to a recommendation to strengthen waste separation at source, implement waste reduction and recycling concepts to reduce the volume of plastic bags, and introduce composting of food waste. The study also highlights economic and financial benefits of waste recycling. Additional value-added could be derived from the organic waste recycling program by promoting production of bioextracts and compost at household level, in order to reduce the amount of organic wastes and carbon emissions. The general and recyclable wastes could also be converted to energy as refuse-derived fuel 2 (RDF-2); the estimated average heating value of this RDF-2 was 23.56 MJ kg-1. To sustain MSW management in tourist areas, environmental education and environmental awareness campaigns are needed, using the appropriate local languages for communication, and introduction of a fairer system based on the polluter-pays principle for the business sector

Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection among the hill tribe youths, northern Thailand

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major viral infection, particularly in people living in the Western Pacific region, including the hill tribe people living in northern Thailand. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HBV infection and to detect the factors associated with HBV infection among hill tribe youths in Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and determine the factors associated with HBV infection among hill tribe youths living in northern Thailand. A validated questionnaire and 5 mL blood sample were used for data collection. The Wondfo Diagnostic Kit®, the Wondfo One Step HBsAg Serum/Plasma Test®, and the Wondfo One Step HBsAg Serum/Plasma Test® were used for anti-HBsAg, HBsAg, and total anti-HBc detections, respectively. Logistic regression was used to detect associations between variables with an α = 0.05 significance level. Results A total of 836 participants were included in the study; 62.7% were female, 58.9% were aged 15–17 years, 58.7% were Buddhist, 78.4% graduated high school, and 89.1% had no income. The majority were Akha (30.0%), Yao (16.3%), and Hmong (15.8%); 13.2% smoked, 21.5% used alcohol, 13.3% had tattoos, 3.9% experienced drug injection from illegal practitioners, and 35.7% had no history of HBV immunization. The prevalence of HBsAg was 3.0%; anti-HBs, 10.2%; and total anti-HBc, 8.1%. In the multivariate analysis, four variables were found to be significantly associated with HBV infection among the hill tribe youths: age, tribe, work experience, and number of partners. Those aged 18–20 years and 21–24 years had 2.13 times (95%CI = 1.35–3.29) and 2.39 times (95%CI = 1.05–3.90) greater odds of HBV infection, respectively, than those aged 15–17 years. Akha, Lahu, and Hmong youths had 3.12 times (95%CI = 1.07–9.12), 3.71 times (95%CI = 1.21–11.41), and 3.84 times (95%CI = 1.26–11.69) greater odds of HBV infection, respectively, than Lisu youths. Those who had experience working outside of the village had a 1.77 times (95%CI = 1.18–2.98) greater chance of HBV infection than those who did not have experience working outside of the village, and those who had ≥2 partners had a 2.66 times (95%CI = 1.96–3.87) greater chance of HBV infection than those who had no partner. Conclusions Effective HBV prevention programs should be promoted in Akha, Lahu, and Hmong youth populations, particularly to those who have sexual partners, work outside of the village and are aged 18–24 years

Additional file 1: of Prevalence and factors associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension among the hill tribe elderly populations in northern Thailand

Hill tirb Elderly Data. (XLSX 545 kb