This paper describes factors affecting autonomous public organization (APO) policy agenda setting and policy formation through comparison of policy processes applied to one educational institute under the Ministry of Education and the... more
This paper describes factors affecting autonomous public organization (APO) policy agenda setting and policy formation through comparison of policy processes applied to one educational institute under the Ministry of Education and the other educational institute under the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand. This study employs mixed method including a qualitative approach through documentary research, in-depth interviews, and participant observation. Factors that facilitated the formulation of the APO policy were: (1) awareness of need; (2) clarity of strategies; (3) leadership, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, (4) clear organizational identity; (5) participatory approach to policy formulation, and (6) identification of a policy window. Factors that impeded the formulation of the APO policy were: (1) diverting political priorities; (2) ill-defined organizational identity; (3) fluctuating leadership direction, (4) inadequate participation of stakeholders; and (5) political ins...
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Main Objective: To find out the impacts of free markets on public health using skin bleaching among the women living in Zimbabwe as a case study. Materials and methods: The study was designed as a case study which used a combined... more
Main Objective: To find out the impacts of free markets on public health using skin bleaching among the women living in Zimbabwe as a case study. Materials and methods: The study was designed as a case study which used a combined methodology facilitated by a cross sectional online survey among 270 women living in Zimbabwe and key informant interviews among 10 cosmetic sellers in Zimbabwe. Results: All the key informants reported to be selling skin lightening cosmetics amongst their cosmetics, some of these cosmetics reported being illegal. All skin lightening products were reported to be hoarded outside Zimbabwe. Corruption and relaxed policies on cosmetic regulation were suggested to be enabling entry of some of the illegal and potentially harmful products in the country. The prevalence of skin bleaching among the participants was 31.15% and most of the participants (61.40%) were ignorant about skin bleaching cosmetics' side effects. Conclusion: Results from the study imply ne...
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Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe programs that aim at programs to divert people with a mental condition from the criminal justice system to mental health services are being initiated, but reporting is limited and... more
Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe programs that aim at programs to divert people with a mental condition from the criminal justice system to mental health services are being initiated, but reporting is limited and fragmented. This study described programs that aim at diverting persons with mental health conditions out of criminal justice systems to community mental health services, with the intention to inform research and practice. Design/methodology/approach A scoping review was used to map and synthesise diversion programs. Ten online data bases were searched. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews was used to direct the selection of sources. Research and evaluation publications and grey literature published from 2010 to 2021 in English language were included. Findings Eight distinct diversion programs were identified across 24 countries or territories covering five phases of the criminal justice process. D...
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Background Pharmaceutical companies actively advertise their branded antibiotics, which influence their sales at community pharmacies. The major proportion of out of pocket health spending is on medicine; and affordability of antibiotics... more
Background Pharmaceutical companies actively advertise their branded antibiotics, which influence their sales at community pharmacies. The major proportion of out of pocket health spending is on medicine; and affordability of antibiotics has always been a crucial issue in most developing countries. This study identified promotional activities adopted by pharmaceutical companies in community pharmacies and medicine shops and the affordability of selected antibiotics to clients with lowest wages in Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among all community pharmacies and medicine shops (n = 34) in Dhulikhel and Banepa. Available pharmacists / personnel were interviewed, using a structured questionnaire, on the characteristics of the pharmacies, promotional activities, and sales and prices of antibiotics used to treat acute upper respiratory tract infections. This study looked at the association of promotional activities (financial bonus, free s...
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This study examines the determinants and prevalence of contraceptive use among married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in three villages of Punakha District, Bhutan. It uses primary quantitative data obtained from the survey of... more
This study examines the determinants and prevalence of contraceptive use among married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in three villages of Punakha District, Bhutan. It uses primary quantitative data obtained from the survey of 215 married women through structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed based on study objectives by using descriptive statistical analysis with SPSS (version 10.0): Frequencies and percentage were used to describe the use of contraceptives; Chi-square test was used to demonstrate the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Result showed that prevalence of contraceptive use was (53.4%) out of which 47.2% used modern contraceptive methods and 6.2% applies to traditional methods. Commonly used contraceptive was found to be injection (38.3%), followed by IUD (20.6%). Main reasons for not using contraceptive were want for more children (35.4%) and lactating (40.2%). Some women felt shy (2.4) to use contraceptives. This study also show...
This study is a part of the larger library development project at Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi, with an aim to investigate needs for library development. The overall objective was to provide relevant information as an... more
This study is a part of the larger library development project at Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi, with an aim to investigate needs for library development. The overall objective was to provide relevant information as an input to the SCPH-C Library Development Plan. Specific objectives were to: (1) identify possible needs for improvement of library services, (2) describe the perceived needs of Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi student and faculty on library services; and (3) identify and select needs that are high in demand and low in availability. This study applied a cross-sectional needs assessment design including quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect primary and secondary data. Identification of possible needs was facilitated by documentary research, open - ended questionnaire, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and panel discussions. Prioritization of needs was, then, facilitated by a survey with a structured questionnaire and i...
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes about, and practices to prevent, dengue fever among Myanmar migrant woman caretakers in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand during January 2004. In total, 307... more
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes about, and practices to prevent, dengue fever among Myanmar migrant woman caretakers in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand during January 2004. In total, 307 households out of 1,014 Myanmar migrant households in Mae Sot District were selected using systematic random sampling. One woman caretaker per household was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square testing were used to analyze the data. It was found that the respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about dengue fever (mean=5.94, SD=2.24). The main sources of information about dengue was family, friends and neighbors. Significant associations were found between respondents ’ duration of stay in Mae Sot District and knowledge (p=0.04); knowledge and attitude (p=0.002); and attitude and preventive practices on dengue fever (p<0.001). The findings of the study indicate that if migrant women are supplied...
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Abstract. This pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of team-based learning (TBL) on graduate students of public health in a Thai context. The pilot project adopted Michaelsen's approach with the aim of improving... more
Abstract. This pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of team-based learning (TBL) on graduate students of public health in a Thai context. The pilot project adopted Michaelsen's approach with the aim of improving learning among Thai graduate students enrolled in public health ethics. This TBL approach attempted to motivate students to do pre-class reading and be active "in-class" learners. Pre-class preparation allowed teachers to address and concentrate on learning gaps, while team work promoted peer interaction and active learning. TBL was found to be useful in fostering student preparedness and to transform "passive" into "active" learning, which especially benefited students "academically at risk" through peer teaching opportunities. With TBL, students valued the relevance of the course content and learning materials. They had positive opinions regarding the effect of TBL on individual and group learning. TBL was perceive...
Cities are experiencing the need to protect people, natural and man-made resources and productive capacities against the risks posed by climate change related events. This descriptive study examines the flood preparedness of hospitals at... more
Cities are experiencing the need to protect people, natural and man-made resources and productive capacities against the risks posed by climate change related events. This descriptive study examines the flood preparedness of hospitals at sub-district, district, provincial, and regional levels in Thailand. In-depth interviews were conducted at fourteen hospitals in five provinces, including Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon provinces. We used content analysis for this qualitative descriptive study. The highlight findings of the study revealed that lack of disaster standard operating procedures for emergency response to flood, lack of risk mapping and vulnerability assessment, and shortage of trained risk communicators. Increasing performance in disaster and emergency preparedness and response in the hospitals is essential. We suggest that the hospitals and relevant government agencies require appropriate mechanism to enhance disaster and emergenc...
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Research Interests: Program Evaluation, Graduate Education, Health Education, Tropical Medicine, Thailand, and 15 morePublic Health, Group Processes, Medicine, Teaching, Humans, Female, Male, Graduate medical education, Middle Aged, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Graduate Education of Geography, Pilot Projects, Southeast Asian, and Organizational case studies
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Unplanned pregnancy is one of the most difficult life experiences for young women. Women are often confused and seek help and support. When the problem occurs, a woman has three choices: parenting the baby, planning for adoption, or... more
Unplanned pregnancy is one of the most difficult life experiences for young women. Women are often confused and seek help and support. When the problem occurs, a woman has three choices: parenting the baby, planning for adoption, or terminating the pregnancy. Choosing one of these three options is often difficult. This study aimed to identify the factors (variables) influencing women's decision making when choosing the options available to them. The study was conducted in five shelters and low-income communities in the Bangkok area. Data were collected for five months, November 2003 to March 2004. Young women, age 13-24, who experienced an unplanned pregnancy at least once, or currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, were recruited into the study. One hundred and twenty volunteer cases were recruited. Discriminant analysis was used to determine the factors that affecting the choices of young women with unplanned pregnancies. There were 6 potential influencing variables, in...
Research Interests: Decision Making, Poverty, Parenting, Adoption, Thailand, and 15 moreAdolescent, Pregnancy, Discriminant Analysis, Humans, Female, Risk factors, Decision making process, Unplanned Pregnancy, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Young Women, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, attitude to health, and Interviews as topic
This pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of team-based learning (TBL) on graduate students of public health in a Thai context. The pilot project adopted Michaelsen's approach with the aim of improving learning among... more
This pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of team-based learning (TBL) on graduate students of public health in a Thai context. The pilot project adopted Michaelsen's approach with the aim of improving learning among Thai graduate students enrolled in public health ethics. This TBL approach attempted to motivate students to do pre-class reading and be active "in-class" learners. Pre-class preparation allowed teachers to address and concentrate on learning gaps, while team work promoted peer interaction and active learning. TBL was found to be useful in fostering student preparedness and to transform "passive" into "active" learning, which especially benefited students "academically at risk" through peer teaching opportunities. With TBL, students valued the relevance of the course content and learning materials. They had positive opinions regarding the effect of TBL on individual and group learning. TBL was perceived to be ins...
Research Interests: Program Evaluation, Graduate Education, Health Education, Tropical Medicine, Thailand, and 14 morePublic Health, Group Processes, Medicine, Teaching, Humans, Female, Male, Graduate medical education, Middle Aged, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Pilot Projects, Southeast Asian, and Organizational case studies
Neonatal mortality in South Asian countries is rampant. Global commitment of reducing under- five mortality without improvement of neonatal survival is difficult to achieve. To explore the root causes of neonatal deaths can help to work... more
Neonatal mortality in South Asian countries is rampant. Global commitment of reducing under- five mortality without improvement of neonatal survival is difficult to achieve. To explore the root causes of neonatal deaths can help to work out viable solution that can precipitate survival of a huge number of population. The main objective of this paper is to explore and identify the basic causes behind persistency of neonatal mortality in South Asian countries since decades as focusing on proximate causes were common and basic causes were unanswered which were leading to the persistent NMR. The basic causes includes, interalia, ignorance of mothers, lack of antenatal care and essential newborn care. This condition can be overcome by focusing on basic determinants like improving women’s education and also by empowering women through improvement in social, cultural and economic determinant that afflict their conditions. This requires massive global, regional and inter-sectorial collabora...
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Background: Suicide is a growing public health problem globally. Suicide accounts for 70% of violent deaths among women in low and middle income countries. In Nepal suicide is the single leading cause of death among women of reproductive... more
Background: Suicide is a growing public health problem globally. Suicide accounts for 70% of violent deaths among women in low and middle income countries. In Nepal suicide is the single leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. The aim of this scoping review is to explore and understand the various contexts related to vulnerability of Nepalese woman towards suicide and deliberate self-harm.Methods: A scoping review based on Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework including a combination of peer-reviewed publications and grey literature was conducted. The National Library of Medicine’s PubMed and Google Scholar search engines were used during July 2019 applying a Boolean search strategy. Results: Suicide incidence was found to be higher among younger age group and married women, with poisoning as the most common means of suicide. Psychosocial and economic factors such as abuse, interpersonal conflicts, marital disputes, relationship problems, adjustment problems...
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Coastal pollution is getting global attention for its enormous impacts on human health by the means of consumptions of seafood, involvement of risky jobs and exposure to water related disastrous events. Critical review of published and... more
Coastal pollution is getting global attention for its enormous impacts on human health by the means of consumptions of seafood, involvement of risky jobs and exposure to water related disastrous events. Critical review of published and unpublished literatures and documents show the effects of heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactive substances are considered as long termed and deadly, and children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable population to such exposures and at risk of adversely affecting their development. The physiological systems of children and fetuses are developing fast and usually sensitive to disruptions induced by environmental pollutants and exposures in utero increase the risk of future toxic insults. Almost sixty percent of the world‘s population is at risk of this contamination and coastal developing countries are facing significant challenges by this form of pollution. The main objective of this review was to explore the situation of coastal water polluti...
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The purpose of this study was to determine the association between early pregnancy of mothers and stunting in children less than two years of age as well as the association between early pregnancy and maternal malnutrition among Bhutanese... more
The purpose of this study was to determine the association between early pregnancy of mothers and stunting in children less than two years of age as well as the association between early pregnancy and maternal malnutrition among Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. A sample of 216 mothers, with their children below 2 years of age was selected from secondary data obtained from Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequencies and proportions. Logistic Regression was used to determine the statistical relationship between early pregnancy and the stunting of their children under 2 years old, adjusting for mother’s age, hemoglobin level, gestational age, and body mass index (BMI) of mothers. The same technique was applied to determine association between early pregnancy and maternal malnutrition adjusting for maternal BMI and hemoglobin levels. Results indicated a significant increased risk of stunting in children with decreasing maternal age with adjusted ra...
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This pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of team-based learning (TBL) on graduate students of public health in a Thai context. The pilot project adopted Michaelsen's approach with the aim of improving learning among... more
This pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of team-based learning (TBL) on graduate students of public health in a Thai context. The pilot project adopted Michaelsen's approach with the aim of improving learning among Thai graduate students enrolled in public health ethics. This TBL approach attempted to motivate students to do pre-class reading and be active "in-class" learners. Pre-class preparation allowed teachers to address and concentrate on learning gaps, while team work promoted peer interaction and active learning. TBL was found to be useful in fostering student preparedness and to transform "passive" into "active" learning, which especially benefited students "academically at risk" through peer teaching opportunities. With TBL, students valued the relevance of the course content and learning materials. They had positive opinions regarding the effect of TBL on individual and group learning. TBL was perceived to be ins...
Research Interests: Program Evaluation, Graduate Education, Health Education, Tropical Medicine, Thailand, and 14 morePublic Health, Group Processes, Medicine, Teaching, Humans, Female, Male, Graduate medical education, Middle Aged, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Pilot Projects, Southeast Asian, and Organizational case studies
Background: Skin bleaching was reported to be commonly practiced among women and Africa was reported to be one of the most affected yet the subject is not given much attention in public health research in Zimbabwe despite the adverse... more
Background: Skin bleaching was reported to be commonly practiced among women and Africa was reported to be one of the most affected yet the subject is not given much attention in public health research in Zimbabwe despite the adverse effects of skin bleaching on health. Method: This study was an exploratory cross-sectional survey to explore skin bleaching, skin bleaching patterns and factors associated with skin bleaching among women living in Zimbabwe. An online self-administered questionnaire was sent out to women on social network i.e. WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Findings: A total number of 260 respondents, mean age 31.69 (SD, 8.12) years participated in the survey. The prevalence of skin bleaching among the participants was 31.15%. The major reason reported for skin bleaching was to have smooth and healthy skin alongside other factors such as beauty, gaining social favours for example getting married and good jobs. Occupation, complexion and marital status were ass...
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BackgroundTraditionally, most Western models of health viewed sickness and disease as a product of individual factors such as personal behaviors and genetic predisposition; consequently, healthcare interventions were largely focused on... more
BackgroundTraditionally, most Western models of health viewed sickness and disease as a product of individual factors such as personal behaviors and genetic predisposition; consequently, healthcare interventions were largely focused on fixing the individual, with little attention placed on contributing external factors. The WHO’s “Social Determinants of Health” (SDH) framework, however, takes a broader ecological perspective that suggests that interventions must occur at multiple levels in order for good health to be achieved on an equitable basis. This model views health as a function of many circumstantial and environmental factors that are continuously and simultaneously interacting across multiple domains. These factors include structural mechanisms, such as laws and policies; socio-economic conditions, such as education and occupation; and intermediary circumstances, such as living and working conditions. Utilizing the SDH framework as a guide, this qualitative study sought to identify which specific determinants are most significant and present the greatest risk to the health and well-being of the Urak Lawoi’ (UL), a “sea nomad” group indigenous to southern Thailand.MethodsInterviews, household surveys, and focus group discussions were utilized to gather primary data from 71 subjects in three different UL communities in southern Thailand. In addition, a comprehensive literature review of relevant international mechanisms, national laws, and national policies was conducted. All data collected was analyzed and coded utilizing HyperRESEARCH.ResultsIn all three communities, education and livelihoods were found to be the most critical determinants. Additionally, land grabbing and living conditions were identified as dire issues on Ko Lipe. The law and policy review revealed several deviations between international mechanisms and national laws and policies in both enshrinement and enforcement, with the Royal Thai Government (RTG) often overlooking the interests of the UL when formulating laws and policies.ConclusionsThe above-mentioned determinants, along other structural and intermediary determinants, are synergizing, thereby placing the UL at increased risk of poorer health and health outcomes compared to other Thais living in the same vicinities. To rectify this, the RTG must reform national laws and policies that harm the UL, and civil society must hold them accountable. Several recommendations are offered to achieve a better future for the Urak Lawoi’.
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ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this review was to explore the situation of coastal water pollution and its impact on child health and pregnancy outcomes in Bangladesh. Background: Globally coastal pollution is of greater... more
ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this review was to explore the situation of coastal water pollution and its impact on child health and pregnancy outcomes in Bangladesh. Background: Globally coastal pollution is of greater significance than inland&#39;s for its huge resources and contribution to livelihood. As a result it has been a source of increased Global Burden of Disease by means of consumption of seafood, involvement in risky jobs, and exposure to water related disastrous events. Almost sixty percent of the world&#39;s population is at risk of costal contamination and developing countries like Bangladesh, geographically located at the tip of the Bay of Bengal, are facing significant challenges by this form of pollution. Method: This study was based on a critical review of published literature and unpublished documents from 1972 to 2011 retrieved from databases of scientific publications, from public-access search engines, reports from government, international organizations, and non-government agencies, and personal communications. Discussion: Huge noxious pollutants including heavy metals, oil spill and redionucleotides were found in the Bay of Bengal, those have enormous adverse impacts on child health and pregnancy outcomes. This review focuses on children and pregnant women because of their vulnerable physiological conditions to the impacts of environmental factors. The physiological systems of children and fetuses are developing fast and usually are sensitive to disruptions induced by environmental pollutants and exposures in utero increase the risk of future toxic insults. Conclusion: The coastal zone of Bangladesh is one of the vulnerable zones in the world which is predicted to disappear due to climate change impacts. This areas face huge weather-related disasters due to continuous changing coastal-configuration and man-made pollutions. However, these observations are indecisive due to limitations of supportive evidence. Therefore, further epidemiological studies are required to confirm initial observations.
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PurposeThis paper aims offer a benchmark by providing an account of women's experiences with domestic violence in Bangladesh and develops illustrations on coping with abuse.Design/methodology/approachA case study design was adopted,... more
PurposeThis paper aims offer a benchmark by providing an account of women's experiences with domestic violence in Bangladesh and develops illustrations on coping with abuse.Design/methodology/approachA case study design was adopted, applying an emic perspective in employing a qualitative research approach to explore and describe women's experiences with and perceptions about domestic violence and their ways of coping in Sherpur District, Bangladesh. In total 25 recently married women participants were purposively sampled by snowballing. In-depth interview data facilitated a latent thematic content analysis.FindingsThe findings indicate that women adopt a range of responses to domestic violence. Two key aspects of coping surfaced in the narratives: (1) emotion-driven and (2) problem-driven approaches to abusive situations. Findings point to a range of research issues that require further study such as domestic violence and taboo; somatization; structural gender inequalities; ...
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Background Traditionally, most Western models of health viewed sickness and disease as a product of individual factors such as personal behaviors and genetic predisposition; consequently, healthcare interventions were largely focused on... more
Background Traditionally, most Western models of health viewed sickness and disease as a product of individual factors such as personal behaviors and genetic predisposition; consequently, healthcare interventions were largely focused on fixing the individual, with little attention placed on contributing external factors. The WHO’s “Social Determinants of Health” (SDH) framework, however, takes a broader ecological perspective that suggests that interventions must occur at multiple levels in order for good health to be achieved on an equitable basis. This model views health as a function of many circumstantial and environmental factors that are continuously and simultaneously interacting across multiple domains. These factors include structural mechanisms, such as laws and policies; socio-economic conditions, such as education and occupation; and intermediary circumstances, such as living and working conditions. Utilizing the SDH framework as a guide, this qualitative study sought to...
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Objective: Health-related quality of life (HQL) among older adults is often neglected and underprioritized in developing countries and is further burdened during natural disasters, such as earthquakes. The main objective of this study was... more
Objective: Health-related quality of life (HQL) among older adults is often neglected and underprioritized in developing countries and is further burdened during natural disasters, such as earthquakes. The main objective of this study was to explore the factors affecting HQL among older adults living in Lalitpur District of Nepal. Methods: A total of 362 older adults participated in this study. Questionnaires were used to interview the respondents on various aspects, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, functional ability, and social support. An analysis was made to explore the factors affecting HQL. Results: HQL scores ranged between 3.13 and 90.63. A majority of the respondents (215/362; 59.4%) scored ≤ 50, indicating poorer HQL. The multivariate analysis found the impact of the following factors on HQL: functional status (β = 0.295; P < 0.001), PTSD (β = −0.225; P < 0.001), chronic disease (β = −0.168; P < 0.001), social support (β = 0.120; P = 0....
Many new and challenging risks can be introduced during mass gatherings. The Hajj, as one of the largest mass gatherings, provides an excellent annual opportunity to reflect on the public health risk posed by international and... more
Many new and challenging risks can be introduced during mass gatherings. The Hajj, as one of the largest mass gatherings, provides an excellent annual opportunity to reflect on the public health risk posed by international and multicultural crowds and the value of mitigation strategies. To identify the gap between preparation and training taken before being exposed to the mass gathering and postexposure experiences, and the breach between the expectations and reality of the holy place. This was a qualitative study with in-depth interviews using semistructured questionnaires among Hajjis from 4 different countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, and New Zealand). Purposive sampling was done. The present study was also supported by literature review. Findings pointed to weaknesses in implementation and enforcement of law, for both the custodian country and countries of origin of Hajjis. Disparities among developed and developing countries were also noticeable. From a global health and...
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PurposeThe pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is “to leave no one behind.” However, there are significant groups of people who are at risk of being left behind. The health and social issues facing prisoners are well... more
PurposeThe pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is “to leave no one behind.” However, there are significant groups of people who are at risk of being left behind. The health and social issues facing prisoners are well known, but past initiatives to address them through international development initiatives have failed to gain widespread support. The purpose of this paper is to advocate for inclusion of prison health care in current international development frameworks such as Universal Health Coverage and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.Design/methodology/approachThis is a commentary paper.FindingsThe governments of most countries have accepted both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Universal Health Coverage as frameworks for future national development planning. Including prison health care in these frameworks will provide a powerful platform for those advocating for better prison health services and will allow governments wary of offending pub...
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PurposeThe pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is “to leave no one behind.” However, there are significant groups of people who are at risk of being left behind. The health and social issues facing prisoners are well... more
PurposeThe pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is “to leave no one behind.” However, there are significant groups of people who are at risk of being left behind. The health and social issues facing prisoners are well known, but past initiatives to address them through international development initiatives have failed to gain widespread support. The purpose of this paper is to advocate for inclusion of prison health care in current international development frameworks such as Universal Health Coverage and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.Design/methodology/approachThis is a commentary paper.FindingsThe governments of most countries have accepted both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Universal Health Coverage as frameworks for future national development planning. Including prison health care in these frameworks will provide a powerful platform for those advocating for better prison health services and will allow governments wary of offending pub...
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Purpose: This paper addresses the challenge to increase the relevance of postgraduate public health education to the needs of the health system with a model for its definition and the development of practical mechanisms. Findings: The... more
Purpose: This paper addresses the challenge to increase the relevance of postgraduate public health education to the needs of the health system with a model for its definition and the development of practical mechanisms. Findings: The concept of relevance in postgraduate public health education is ill- defined. The means for making education more relevant to the needs of public health systems have not been usefully developed. A systems approach that synthesizes educational, human resource development and practice models provides a basis for developing a mechanism for increasing relevance. The determination of health systems needs, improvement of educational programs and the development of partnerships are suggested as key elements in this mechanism. Discussion: All efforts to improve public health practices and therefore, the health status of the population depend directly and heavily on the development of health professionals. Public health educational institutions have been challe...
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Purpose: This paper describes a needs assessment related to the perceptions of the Level of Performance of Public Health Services required for the development of the public health system in Thailand. Methods: A national consensus panel of... more
Purpose: This paper describes a needs assessment related to the perceptions of the Level of Performance of Public Health Services required for the development of the public health system in Thailand. Methods: A national consensus panel of key partners in public health was convened to identify the essential Public Health Services appropriate for Thailand and to develop an assessment instrument. The instrument was, then, used to analyze the perceptions of representatives of Public Health Professionals, Public Administrators, Academics involved in public health training and the Ministry of Public Health. Results: The panel adopted the 10 Essential Public Health Services developed by the Public Health Functions Steering Committee, USA, and added one more ‘Planning and Management’. None of the eleven Public Health Services were perceived to be a Strength, five were perceived to be Satisfactory and the remaining six were perceived to be a Weakness. Those considered being a Weakness were t...
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A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes about, and practices to prevent, dengue fever among Myanmar migrant woman caretakers in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand during January 2004. In total, 307... more
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes about, and practices to prevent, dengue fever among Myanmar migrant woman caretakers in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand during January 2004. In total, 307 households out of 1,014 Myanmar migrant households in Mae Sot District were selected using systematic random sampling. One woman caretaker per household was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square testing were used to analyze the data. It was found that the respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about dengue fever (mean=5.94, SD=2.24). The main sources of information about dengue was family, friends and neighbors. Significant associations were found between respondents' duration of stay in Mae Sot District and knowledge (p=0.04); knowledge and attitude (p=0.002); and attitude and preventive practices on dengue fever (p
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Public health professionals in an evolving system within a dynamic environment are facing increasing challenges to meet the needs of communities. This is especially true in Thailand because of the priority given to health promotion,... more
Public health professionals in an evolving system within a dynamic environment are facing increasing challenges to meet the needs of communities. This is especially true in Thailand because of the priority given to health promotion, health systems reform, decentralization and health financing in Thailand’s 8th and 9th National Health Development Plans. In response to the need for human resource development in rural Thailand, a part-time MPH Program, the Learning @ the Workplace Program was developed in 1996, by the College of Public Health, Chulalongkorn University. In 2000 the College embarked on a review of the objectives and learning experiences of this MPH program, with the support the China Medical Board. The aim was to improve the relevance, efficiency, and quality of the Learning @ the Workplace Program in resource constraint rural provinces through testing of a systematic mechanism.