Community acceptability, participation, and adherence to mass drug administration with primaquine for Plasmodium vivax elimination in Southern Thailand: a mixed methods approach.

Background: Mass drug administration (MDA) with primaquine (PQ) is being considered for accelerating Plasmodium vivax elimination in remaining active foci. This study aimed to determine the acceptability of MDA with PQ in malaria endemic villages in a malarious setting in the South of Thailand undergoing MDA with PQ.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was conducted in seven malaria endemic villages where MDA with PQ was implemented.

Inadequacy of nutrients intake among pregnant women in the deep south of Thailand.

Background: The deep south of Thailand is an area which has been affected by violence since 2004, yet the concurrent coverage of antenatal care has remained at over 90%. Our study aimed to describe the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy among pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics in hospitals in the study area and assess factors associated with nutrient inadequacy.

Methods: Pregnant women from four participating hospitals located in lower southern Thailand were surveyed during January-December 2008.