Violence against women and its effects on mental health and quality of life: A study of Myanmar migrant workers in Central Thailand.

Background: Women migrant workers are vulnerable to violence. Violence against women is a pervasive public health problem, violates women's rights, and may adversely affect women's quality of life (QoL) and mental health. However, few studies have focused on this problem among migrant women workers from Myanmar.

Development of an ergonomics risk assessment tool for repetitive task assessment (RTRA).

Background: Most ergonomics assessment tools for repetitive task have been used in industries which are mainly focused on assessing the biomechanical risk factors that affect musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) rather than the psychosocial and work environment risk factors.

Objective: To develop a tool for Repetitive Task Risk Assessment (RTRA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) that can identify biomechanical, physical stress and psychosocial risk factors, prioritize risk reduction action and systematic record keeping.

Methods: The study consisted of 2 phases; tool development and evaluation of the contents of risk factors by 7 ergonomic experts and intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and validity tests of the tool by 1 researcher and 9 Thai practitioners to assess 30 repetitive tasks.

Comparison of musculoskeletal load using two devices for manual height adjustment of the hospital bed.

Patient manual handling in bed causes lower back pain (LBP) among Thai nurses. This study aims to develop an extension device for manual height adjustment of the hospital bed, and to evaluate its efficiency in preventing LBP among Thai nurses. Eleven participants were enrolled for electromyography measurement in eight right muscles.

Diarrheal knowledge and preventative behaviors among the caregivers of children under 5 years of age on the Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia.

Purpose: Although Cambodia has made significant progress toward lowering the under-five mortality rate since 2000, diarrhea still accounts for 6% of the total number of these deaths. A vast majority of these deaths is preventable. In this study, we sought to examine diarrheal knowledge and preventative behaviors of caregivers of children under the age of 5 years, to determine caregiver factors associated with knowledge and behavior scores.

Chewing of betel quid: why do health careproviders in Thimphu, Bhutan, do it?

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of betel quid chewing and related factors including general characteristics, behavioral pattern, perception and social influences among health care providers in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Material And Method: A self-administered questionnaire was handed to 478 health care providers working in different units of health care centers in Thimphu during June-July 2010. A total of 391 (81.

A multilevel study of smoking among youths in school at Buriram Province.

Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine status of smoking among youths in school and to identify both student-level and school-level factors on smoking.

Material And Method: A stratified two stage cluster sampling was employed to recruit 2,557 students in grades 10-12 and 30 teachers from 30 high schools in academic years 2010 in Buriram province, using a multilevel logistic analysis.

Results: The current smoking status was 9.

Maternal return to paid work and breastfeeding practices in Bangkok, Thailand.

This study explored the association between mothers' work-related factors and breastfeeding practices in Bangkok, Thailand. Data were collected from 84 working mothers with a child aged 6 to 24 months who visited the breastfeeding mobile clinic at a nursery goods exhibition. Thai interviewers collected data using a structured questionnaire.

Risk factors for hypertension among rural Thais.

A community based case-control study was conducted to determine the risk factors for hypertension among a rural population in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. Seventy-two subjects diagnosed with hypertension (BP > or = 140/ 90 mmHg) were randomly selected. Seventy-two controls with normal blood pressure (BP < 120-80 mmHg) were also randomly selected from the same or nearest house to the subjects.

Dengue risk factors and community participation in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam, a household survey.

To look for risk factors for dengue and community participation in dengue control in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam, three communes with a low incidence of dengue and three with a high incidence, in Binh Thuan Province, were compared. Knowledge, perception and preventive practice of dengue were measured by means of a structured questionnaire. A check list of environmental observations was used to evaluate environmental factors.

Behaviors and perceptions of Japanese tourists affecting diarrheal illness and health care need assessment: A questionnaire study.

Objectives: To measure the prevalence rate of, and determine the association between food and drink related behaviors and diarrheal illness among Japanese tourists, and assess their health care needs.

Methods: Eligible Japanese tourists (1,480) aged ≥15 years traveling in Chiangmai Province in the north, Ayutthaya Province in the center, Kanchanaburi Province in the west, Pattaya City in the east, and Krabi Province in the south of Thailand were enrolled in the study. Of these tourists, 1,318 consented to participate in this study and completed questionnaires in Japanese, giving a response rate of 89.

Rational drug use in Cambodia: study of three pilot health centers in Kampong Thom Province.

This study obtained baseline information for the design of a strategy to address irrational prescribing practices in three health centers in Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia. Indicators of rational drug use have been measured and compared with Standard Guidelines. Data were collected from patients' registers and by interviewing patients immediately after patient-prescriber and patient-dispenser encounters.