Women oppressed in the daily lives and cultural practices of the akha people, Thailand: how can the situation change?

Background: Gender equality is one of the most concerning issues globally. Females lacking equality could lead to several impacts, including health and economic impacts. Gender equality is often present in some minorities, such as the Akha hill tribe people who live in remote areas and have poor educational and economic statuses.

Epidemiology of and Factors Associated with Prehypertension Among Hill Tribe Adults Aged 30-59 Years in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and to determine the factors associated with prehypertension among the hill tribe aged 30-59 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data using a validated questionnaire and 5 mL blood specimens among six main hill tribe people living in 30 villages. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between variables at a significance level of α = 0.

Influences and patterns of intimate partner violence among married Akha and Lahu women in northern Thailand.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major global public health problem. Women are the principal victims of IPV, and some special populations have been particularly impacted. The Akha and Lahu women are vulnerable populations for IPV due to the modernization and changes of their culture and norms.

Components of stigma and its impact on maternal and child health service and outcomes: perspective of Akha hill tribe women in Thailand.

Background: Maternal and child health (MCH) is crucial to the well-being of mothers and children. Stigma regarding access to MCH services is a major challenge, especially for hill tribe people in Thailand. The study aimed to understand the components of stigma and its impact on MCH service and outcomes including experiences and expectations to address the stigma in perspective of Akha hill tribe women in Thailand.

Quality of life and factors associated with a good quality of life among diabetes mellitus patients in northern Thailand.

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is a good indicator of lifespan, especially for individuals who are suffering from a particular illness. QOL among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) could be used for further implementations in addition to improving patient care and disease management, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to assess QOL and identify factors associated with a good QOL among DM patients in northern Thailand.

Drivers, facilitators, and sources of stigma among Akha and Lahu hill tribe people who used methamphetamine in Thailand: a qualitative approach.

Background: The stigma related to drug use has several impacts, including effects on users' physical and mental health. Methamphetamine is a major drug that is used among hill tribes living in the border areas of Thailand and Myanmar. This study aimed to understand the drivers, facilitators, sources and outcomes of the stigma surrounding drug use, including the expectations among Akha and Lau hill tribe people who use methamphetamine in Thailand.

Status of the stateless population in Thailand: How does stigma matter in their life?

Background: The stateless population in Thailand live by accessing all public services, including the health care system. Stigma is a crucial factor impacting these individuals' lives and their access to medical care. This study aimed to understand the experience of the stateless population in Thailand and how they overcome the problem of stigma.

Prevalence and predictors of suboptimal glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in northern Thailand: A hospital-based cross-sectional control study.

Background: Suboptimal glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant public health problem, particularly among people living with poor education and economic statuses, including those with a unique dietary culture. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify the factors associated with suboptimal glycemic control among patients with type 2 DM during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was used to elicit information from DM patients attending six hospitals located in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand, between February and May 2021.

Association Between Lifestyle Behaviors and Hypertension Among Hill Tribe Adults in Thailand: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Hypertension (HT) is a serious problem in the adult population, particularly among individuals who are living in poor economic conditions and have a low education level. This study aimed to determine the associations between lifestyle and HT among adult hill tribe populations in Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to gather information on several risk behaviors related to HT among the hill tribe population aged 30 years and older by using a validated questionnaire and 5 mL blood specimens.

Impacts of and survival adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic among the hill tribe population of northern Thailand: A qualitative study.

Background: COVID-19 has exerted a variety of impacts on people, particularly people with limited education living in poor economic settings. This study investigates the impacts of and adaptations to COVID-19 among the hill tribe people of northern Thailand.

Methods: A qualitative method was used to elicit information from key informants who lived in a hill tribe village in Mae Fah Laung district, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Epidemiology of thalassemia among the hill tribe population in Thailand.

Background: Thalassemia is a severe disease that occurs due to abnormalities in hemoglobin genes. Various genetic factors in different populations lead to different clinical manifestations of thalassemia disease, particularly among people who have a long history of migration and who have married among tribes, such as the hill tribe people in Thailand. This genetic epidemiological study aimed to estimate the prevalence of various forms of thalassemia among the six main hill tribe populations in Thailand.

Prevalence and determinants of TB infection in a rural population in northeastern Myanmar.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major human threat, as evidenced by the large numbers of cases and deaths, particularly in developing countries with poor economic and educational statuses. Myanmar has one of the highest TB burdens in the world, but no TB information is available for people living in the rural northeastern regions of Myanmar. The present study estimated the prevalence of TB and identified factors associated with TB infection in people living in rural communities in Shan State.

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

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.

Knowledge, attitudes and preparedness to respond to COVID-19 among the border population of northern Thailand in the early period of the pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand is a site of many people travelling among nearby countries and areas, including Yunnan province, China. In February 2020, there was concern about the population's vulnerability to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 villages less than 10 km from a border.

Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B infection among the hill tribe adult population in Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the greatest public health burdens, particularly for people living with several barriers to access to health care services, such as the hill tribe adult population in Thailand. People aged 25 years and over who are out of the target population for HBV immunization under the national Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) are at risk of HBV infection. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determine the factors associated with HBV infection among hill tribe adults aged 25 years and over living in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.

Prevalence of and factors associated with depression among hill tribe individuals aged 30 years and over in Thailand.

Background: Depression is a silent health problem that can lead to severe and sometimes fatal outcomes if individuals are not diagnosed and treated properly; this is particularly true in populations with limited education, low economic status and several barriers to accessing health services, such as the hill tribe people in Thailand.

Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with depression among hill tribe individuals aged 30 years and over. A validated questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used for data collection in an interview format in a private and confidential room.

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

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) is a commonly used substance among youths, particularly those who are living in poor economic conditions with low levels of education and who have had bad childhood experiences. The Akha and Lahu hill tribe youths living on the Thailand-Myanmar-Laos border are identified as the group most vulnerable to MA use in Thailand. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MA use and determine its associations with childhood experiences among Akha and Lahu youths aged 15-24 years in northern Thailand.

Prevalence of and factors associated with hypertension among the hill tribe population aged 35 years and over in northern Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Hypertension (HT) is a serious noncommunicable disease that can lead to several health problems when it is not detected or is not properly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, particularly in individuals living in poor economic and education conditions. The hill tribe population in northern Thailand is a vulnerable population with limited information available regarding HT.

Methods: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HT and to determine the factors associated with HT among individuals from hill tribes aged 35 years and over and living in northern Thailand.