scholarly journals Pulmonary function and factors associated with current smoking among the hill tribe populations in northern Thailand: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anongnad Mee-inta ◽  
Ratipark Tamornpark ◽  
Fartima Yeemard ◽  
Panupong Upala ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Current Smoking ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Hill Tribe ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
The Hill

Abstract Background Smoking is considered one of the major poor health behaviors leading to several health problems. Individuals with a poor education and economic status are vulnerable to smoking, particularly the hill tribe people in Thailand. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of current smoking, assess pulmonary function, and identify factors associated with current smoking among individuals aged 20 years and older of the hill tribes in northern Thailand. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted to gather information from the hill tribe people living in 42 hill tribe villages. A validated questionnaire, spirometry, and pulse oximetry were used as the research tools. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data from the participants in a private room after obtaining informed consent voluntarily. Chi-squared test and logistic regression were used to detect the associations between the variables at the significance level of α = 0.05. Results In total, 2216 participants were recruited into the study: 54.6% were women, 80.3% were aged 31–59 years, and 86.1% were married. The prevalence of smoking was 36.3%; 20.6% were current smokers (36.7% among men and 7.0% among women), and 15.7% were ever smokers. Half of the participants (50.1%) had smoked for ≤9 years, 80.1% smoked ≤10 pieces per day, 64.2% smoked traditional tobacco, 42.8% had low-to-moderate levels of knowledge of the harms of smoking, and 68.4% had low-to-moderate levels of attitudes toward the harms of smoking. Only sex was statistically significant among the different smoking behaviors (p-value< 0.001), and the participants’ pulmonary function was not significantly different. After controlling for age, sex, religion, and education, three variables were found to be associated with current smoking among the hill tribe people in Thailand: men were more likely to smoke than women (AOR = 7.52, 95% CI = 5.53–10.24); those who used amphetamines were more likely to smoke than those who did not (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.69–5.03); those who had poor attitudes toward the harms of smoking were more likely to smoke than those who had a positive attitude toward the harms of smoking (AOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.53–3.97). Conclusion Translating essential health messages into the hill tribe language and improving the channel to deliver this information to the target populations, particularly men, are crucial strategies for improving their knowledge and attitudes toward the harms of smoking and making them quit smoking.

scholarly journals Factors associated with hypertriglyceridemia among the hill tribe people aged 30 years and over, Thailand: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panupong Upala ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Chanyanut Wongfu ◽  
Siriyaporn Khunthason ◽  
Niwed Kullawong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Serum Triglycerides ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Hill Tribe ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Hill ◽  
Abnormal Level

Abstract Background Triglycerides are lipids in the human body that are produced from the consumption of daily food and drink. However, elevated serum triglycerides, also known as hypertriglyceridemia (HTG), are key biomarkers indicating an unhealthy status and increased risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and pancreatitis. Different groups of people have different patterns and styles of cooking and different patterns of consumption, such as hill tribe people, who have their own unique culture and cooking practices. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and determine the factors associated with HTG among the hill tribe population in Thailand. Method A cross-sectional study was performed. Data and a-5 mL blood sample were collected from participants who were members of one of the six main hill tribes in Thailand: Akah, Lahu, Hmong, Yao, Karen, and Lisu. People who lived in 30 selected hill tribe villages and aged 30 years over were asked to participate the study. Pearson correlation and logistic regression were used to detect the correlations and determine the associations between variables, respectively, at a significant level of α = 0.05. Results A total of 2552 participants participated this study; 65.9% were females, 72.35% were aged 40–69 years, 76.7% had no education, 48.7% worked in the agricultural section, and 71.2% had an annual income of less than 50,000 baht/family. Regarding the triglyceride level, 41.7% of participants had elevated levels of serum triglyceride or HTG; 16.4% had a borderline high level, and 25.3% had a high level. After controlling for all potential confounder factors, three variables were found to be associated with elevated serum triglycerides. Those who were members of the Lahu and Hmong tribes were 1.62 times (95%CI = 1.25–2.01) and 1.63 times (95%CI = 1.23–2.16) more likely to have elevated serum triglycerides than those who were members of the Akha tribe, respectively. Those who used a high quantity of cooking oil for daily cooking were 0.73 times less likely to have an abnormal level of triglycerides than those who used a low quantity of cooking oil for daily cooking (95%CI = 0.58–0.91), and those who had a waist circumference indicating obesity were 1.28 times more likely to have an abnormal level of triglycerides than those who had a normal waist circumference (95%CI = 1.08–1.52). Conclusion Public health programs that focus on encouraging people to have regular exercise to reduce their body weight, particularly in some tribes, such as Lahu and Hmong, should be implemented.

scholarly journals Antibiotic resistance among the Lahu hill tribe people, northern Thailand: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophaphan Intahphuak ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Patita Kuipiaphum
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hill Tribe ◽  
The Hill

Abstract Background Antibiotic resistance is often reported and great concerned as one of public health problems especially people living with poverty in developing countries including Thailand. The hill tribe people is defined as vulnerable population for antibiotic resistance in Thailand due to poor economic and education status particularly the Lahu people who is the second greatest group of the hill tribe people in Thailand. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence, factors associated with, and typing major species of bacteria with antibiotic drugs resistance among the Lahu hill tribe people in northern Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to gather the information from the participants. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Participants who presented an illness related to infectious diseases were eligible to participate the study and were asked to obtain specific specimen; sputum, urine or stool. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by Kirbey Bauer’s disc diffusion test. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to detect the associations between variables at the significant level of α = 0.05. Results A total of 240 participants were recruited into the study. The majority had urinary tract infection (67.9%) with two major pathogenic species of the infection; Escherichia coli (12.8%), and Enterobacter cloacae (8.0%). The prevalence of antibiotic resistance was 16.0%. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae species were found to have multidrug resistance that was greater than that of other species, while ampicillin was found to have the greatest drug resistance. It was found that those who had poor knowledge of antibiotic use had a 2.56-fold greater chance (95% CI = 1.09–5.32) of having antibiotic resistance than did those who had good knowledge of antibiotic use, and those who had poor antibiotic use behaviors had a 1.79-fold greater chance (95% CI = 1.06–4.80) of having antibiotic resistance than did those who had good antibiotic use behaviors. Conclusion Effective public health interventions are urgently needed to reduce antibiotic drug resistance among the Lahu people by improving their knowledge and skills regarding the proper use of antibiotics and eventually minimizing antibiotic resistance. Moreover, health care professionals should strictly follow the standard guideline to prescribe antibiotics.

scholarly journals Factors associated with domestic violence in the Lahu hill tribe of northern Thailand: A cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248587
Author(s):  
Nicharuch Panjaphothiwat ◽  
Ratipark Tamornpark ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Prapamon Seeprasert ◽  
Onnalin Singkhorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Family Member ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Financial Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The Past ◽  
Hill Tribe

Background Domestic violence significantly affects physical and mental health, particularly among children, women, and the elderly. Living in certain family environments could lead to victimization by domestic violence, especially among families with a poor socioeconomic status, such as the Lahu hill tribe people in Thailand. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and determine the factors associated with domestic violence among Lahu children, women, and the elderly. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted of participants who belonged to the Lahu hill tribe and lived in 20 selected villages in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. A validated questionnaire was used to collect personal information and information regarding experiences related to domestic violence in the past year from children (aged 5–15 years), women (aged 16–59 years), and the elderly (aged 60 years and over). A binary logistic regression was used to detect associations between the variables. Results A total of 646 participants were recruited into the study, specifically, 98 children aged 5–15 years, 430 women aged 16–59 years, and 118 elderly people. Children who smoked (AOR = 8.70; 95%CI = 1.27–59.45) had greater odds of experiencing domestic violence than children who did not smoke. Women who had a role as a family member (AOR = 1.59; 95%CI = 1.02–2.50), used alcohol (AOR = 3.36; 95%CI = 2.27–4.99), lived in a family with financial problems (AOR = 4.01; 95%CI = 2.52–7.66), and lived with a family member who uses alcohol (AOR = 2.87; 95%CI = 2.20–5.63) had greater odds of suffering domestic violence than women who did not share these characteristics. The elderly who used alcohol (AOR = 3.25, 95%CI = 1.08–9.81), lived with a family member who uses alcohol (AOR = 3.31; 95%CI = 1.26–7.34), or lived in a family with financial problems in the past year (AOR = 2.16; 95%CI = 1.16–8.77) had greater odds of facing domestic violence than the elderly who did not have these characteristics. Conclusion Family financial problems and substance use are associated with domestic violence in Lahu families in Thailand. Health interventions to reduce the use of substances, including training programs to respond to domestic violence, should be promoted for Lahu children, women, and the elderly.

scholarly journals Factors associated with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among hill tribe people aged 30 years and over in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niwed Kullawong ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Panupong Upala ◽  
Ratipark Tamornpark ◽  
Vivat Keawdounglek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Hill Tribe ◽  
Hba1c Levels

Abstract Background Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is one of the most important types of cholesterol and has an impact on health. Certain lifestyle and dietary habits in different populations may leads to increased levels of LDL-C, particularly among those with poor education and economic statuses, such as hill tribe people in Thailand. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and determine the factors associated with high LDL-C levels among hill tribe people in northern Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed to gather information from six main hill tribe populations: Akha, Lahu, Hmong, Yao, Karen, and Lisu. Individuals who were aged over 30 years and living in 30 selected hill tribe villages were invited to participate in the study. A validated questionnaire and 5-mL blood specimens were used to obtain data. Correlation analyses, chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression were used to detect correlations and associations. Results A total of 2552 participants were recruited into the study; 65.9% were females, and 64.1% were aged younger than 60 years old. Approximately 69.6% of participants had abnormal LDL-C levels; 33.6% had above-optimal levels, 24.3% had borderline high levels, 8.0% had high levels, and 3.7% had very high levels. A total of 17.4% of participants had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high LDL-C levels, while 14.9% had high triglyceride and LDL-C levels. After controlling for sex, age, religion, education, annual family income, and marital status in the multivariate model, three variables were found to be associated with high LDL-C levels: occupation, the amount of lard used in daily cooking, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Those who were working as agriculturalists had a 1.34-fold greater chance of having abnormal LDL-C than traders and others (95% CI = 1.09–1.34). Those who used moderate and high quantities of lard in their daily cooking had a 1.45-fold (95% CI = 1.15–1.82) and 1.31-fold (95% CI = 1.04–1.68) greater likelihood of having abnormal LDL-C levels than those who used low quantities, respectively. Those who had abnormal HbA1c levels were less likely to develop abnormal LDL-C levels than those who had normal HbA1c levels (AOR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.51–92). Conclusions Effective public health programs that do not conflict with the cultures of hill tribes are urgently needed, particularly programs encouraging the use of small quantities of lard for daily cooking practices.

scholarly journals Associations of childhood experiences and methamphetamine use among Akha and Lahu hill tribe youths in northern Thailand: A cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. e0234923
Author(s):  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Chalitar Chomchoei ◽  
Pilasinee Wongnuch ◽  
Ratipark Tamornpark ◽  
Panupong Upala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Methamphetamine Use ◽  
Hill Tribe

scholarly journals Prevalence of and factors associated with depression in the hill tribe population aged 40 years and older in northern Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Onnalin Singkhorn ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Khanittha Pitchalard ◽  
Katemanee Moonpanane ◽  
Pawadee Hamtanon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Hill Tribe ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Hill

Abstract Background Depression is globally recognized as a major mental health problem in all age categories, particularly among those living in poor economic conditions and with low levels of education, including the hill tribe people in northern Thailand. Methods This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression and determine the factors associated with depression in the hill tribe population aged 40 and over in northern Thailand. Hill tribe people who lived in the selected villages and met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study. A validated questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used for data collection. An interview was conducted in a private and confidential room in the selected villages between January and April 2019. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with depression at a significance level of α = 0.05. Results A total of 601 participants were recruited into the study. More than half (64.23%) were women, 46.76% were Akha, 61.90% were aged 40–59 years, and 76.37% were married. Half of the participants were Christian (57.07%) and had no monthly income (51.25%), and 85% were illiterate. The overall prevalence of depression was 39.10%: 75.74% had mild depression, 17.88% had moderate depression, and 6.38% had severe depression. In the multivariate model, three variables were found to be associated with depression: being female, having a history of substance abuse, and experiencing stress six months prior. Compared to men, women were 2.09 times (95% CI 1.30–3.35) more likely to have depression. Those who had a history of substance abuse were more likely to have depression than those who did not have a history of substance abuse (AOR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.25–3.10). Those who had a history of stress in the prior 6 months were more likely to have depression than those who did not (AOR = 6.43; 95% CI 4.20–9.85). Conclusion Public health screening programs to identify depression in the hill tribe population are urgently needed, particularly for women, those who have abused psychoactive substances, and those who have experienced stress.

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