Thailand
Substance use and premarital sex among adolescents in Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand
Early initiation of smoking and drinking are well known to have both immediate and long-term adverse health and social consequences (CDC, 1994; Gruber and others, 1996; WHO, 1997). Premarital sex during adolescence is often unprotected against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, and as a consequence, often results in adverse social, economic, and health consequences (UNICEF, UNAIDS and WHO, 2002; WHO, 2001). For these reasons, substance use and premarital sex during adolescence are regarded as risk-taking behaviour. Limited studies on substance use and premarital sex also indicate that the prevalence of these risk-taking behaviours among adolescents is increasing in Asian countries (Corraro and others, 2000; Tan, 1994; Issarabhakdi, 2000). In order to formulate and implement effective adolescent health policies and programmes it is essential that the prevalence of adolescent risk-taking behaviousr and the factors associated with them are identified.
Influences on client loyalty to reproductive health-care clinics in the Philippines and Thailand
Studies of factors that affect client loyalty to reproductive health (RH) clinics are limited. This is the case even though the International Conference on Population and Development held at Cairo in 1994 noted, among other issues, the importance of understanding how client perceptions of quality and satisfaction impact continued use of RH clinics (Ashford, 2001). From the client’s perspective, stronger clinic loyalty enhances willingness to follow treatment recommendations and keep subsequent appointments (RamaRao and others, 2003). From the clinic’s perspective, stronger loyalty results in more positive word-of-mouth and repeated visits. Visit continuity in turn increases staff’s ability to deliver quality care and reduces higher costs of recruiting new clients to replace one or two-time users (Sandaram, Mitra and Webster, 1998).
Attributes of active ageing among older persons in Thailand: Evidence from the 2002 survey
Thai people’s life expectancy has risen from 59 to 72 years between 1964 and 2005 (Prasartkul and Vapattanawong, 2005), while the proportion of persons aged 60 years and over in Thailand has been dramatically increasing, from 4.6 per cent in 1960 to 9.5 per cent in 2000 (National Statistical Office (NSO), 1960 and 2000). It is expected that Thailand will face a “population ageing” crisis in the year 2017, when older persons will constitute approximately 14 per cent of the total population, an increase from 7 per cent in 1987 (Jitapunkul, 2000). In other words, the percentage of older persons will double within 30 years and will further increase to 25 per cent of the total in 2035, based on a recent population projection done by the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University (2006). This means that Thailand has only a relatively short time to prepare to respond to the various challenges brought about the greying of its population and in particular issues related to the health, welfare, housing and long-term care of older persons.
Mortality and causes of death in Thailand: Evidence from the survey of population change and death registration
Death is a major factor affecting a country’s population structure. Evidence shows that death rates tend to decrease continuously and rapidly as a consequence of continued improvements in medical care and the public health system along with socio-economic development. Infant, child and maternal mortality are, therefore, often used as indicators, reflecting the effectiveness of the public health system and improvements in the quality of life. In Thailand, such improvements have been evident. From 1964-1965 to 1995-1996, male and female life expectancy at birth increased from 59.9 to 69.9 years and 62 to 74.9 years, respectively.
The effect of remittances on return migration and its relation to household wealth: The case of rural Thailand
When Ravenstein (1885) in writing on the “laws of migration” stated that each current of migration produces a compensating countercurrent, return migration has been acknowledged as important to any thorough understanding of migration. Yet, for many years the view of migration as primarily a one-way phenomenon dominated empirical inquiries. While studies have focused on the departure of migrants, the migration journey, arrival, settlement and integration, the return of migrants has received far less attention (King, 2000).
Women’s work and family size in rural thailand
One of the potential benefits of family planning programmes in developing countries is that limiting family size can increase women’s ability to participate in productive activities, which in turn can contribute to the economic wellbeing of the family. This argument is based on the assumption that reproductive and productive activities compete for a woman’s limited time and hence women with a small number of children to rear are able to engage more in economic activities than those with larger numbers of children. Thus, the prevalence of small families should be desirable to both the families and the Government. Despite this, however, little is known about the impact of reduced family size on women’s participation in the labour force.
Breast-feeding and return to fertility: Clinical evidence from Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand
Breast-feeding is known to prevent women from becoming pregnant under certain circumstances. In recent years, reproductive physiologists have been studying the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to learn more precisely how lactation postpones the return of “fertility,” or fecundity. Family planning researchers are interested in knowing not only how breast-feeding inhibits ovulation, but how the return of fertility can be predicted during breast-feeding so that its natural contraceptive benefit can be relied upon with confidence.
A multi-level analysis of the determinants of fertility in the four regions of Thailand
District-level variations in the quality of mortality data in thailand
Different studies on variations of cause-specific mortality provide different policy implications and suggestions. Some findings mirror existing health care and services. Costantini and others (2000) concluded that differences in proportions of cancer patients dying at home across 13 provinces in Italy could not be explained by the known determinants, suggesting inappropriate hospital admission in the terminal phase of cancer. A study on geographical variations in breast cancer mortality in older American women by Goodwin and others (2002) suggested ways to improve the quality of breast cancer care. Some studies suggest further research in specific areas.
Has Thailand’s fertility decline stalled?
Probably the most important demographic development to occur during the last quarter century has been the onset of fertility decline in a number of third world countries. While most Sub-Saharan African countries as well as a number in the Middle East and West Asia have yet to participate in this phenomenon, fertility in countries elsewhere in Asia and in much of Latin America has started down a path towards levels far lower than have ever prevailed in their modern histories. Given that mortality declines preceded the fall in fertility, and that most of these populations have been experiencing unprecedented rapid population growth rates at levels that would lead to extraordinary numbers of people in just decades, most observers concerned with population matters view the onset of fertility decline as a logical and welcome development.
Breast-feeding trends, patterns and policies in Thailand
Thailand is in a relatively advantageous position compared with most other countries in the region with respect to data to document trends and patterns of breast-feeding and related infant feeding practices. Relevant questions, even if not always strictly comparable, have been included in a series of nationally representative surveys conducted during the last two decades. The information provided by these surveys makes clear that a trend towards a decline in the duration of breast-feeding was underway during the decade of the 1970s, but that during the 1980s the decline halted. In addition, the proportion initiating breastfeeding was high throughout the two-decade period and appears to have recently increased to the point where, at the national level, it is now close to universal.
The future of Thailand’s population policy: Potential directions
Labour shortages are brought about more by Thailand’s rapidly growing economy and lagging education than by demographic change
The cultural context of Thailand’s fertility decline
Thailand is among a growing number of developing countries that are experiencing a sustained decline in fertility from former high and relatively stable levels. In the case of Thailand, the reduction in birth rates has been both rapid and pervasive. During the last two decades, the total fertility rate (TFR) fell from a level of between 6 and 7 births per woman to a level of close to 3 per woman. According to a recent United Nations assessment, Thailand’s fertility decline during the last two decades ranks as the third largest, behind only China and the Republic of Korea, among the 15 most populous developing countries of the world (United Nations, 1985).
Impact of population registration on hilltribe development in Thailand
Ethnic minority groups traditionally live on the fringes of society. In Thailand, an increasing number of them in recent decades have shown willingness to participate in the country’s development and to take their place closer to the mainstream of society. From the Government’s perspective, the main concern has been to address the major problems traditionally associated with the hilltribe population, i.e. opium cultivation and drug addiction, national security issues, conservation of natural resources and environmental degradation. Throughout the past few decades, population registration has become one of the most important issues related to the hilltribe people of Thailand, together with the general question of whether or not indigenous people or ethnic minority groups may become full citizens.
Child migrants and children of migrants in Thailand
The situation of children of migrants in Thailand has not received the attention it warrants from government policy makers, government and other programme planners, international organizations and social researchers. This neglect has no doubt occurred because of a focus on the larger issues represented by the presence of migrants in Thailand, particularly regular migrants, irregular migrants, refugees and displaced persons. When the Ministry of Interior invited migrants from Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar to register in July 2004 to receive permission to remain in the country until 30 June 2005 in order to work or seek work, more than 93,000 persons under age 15 were registered. This number would be only a fraction of the total number of foreign migrants in Thailand yet it indicates that much of the migration from those neighbouring countries involves families rather than individual workers.
The economic and social impact of declining fertility: A case study of Thailand
Thailand is by all odds one of the most successful economic and demographic stories in South-east Asia, an area in which other success stories can also be found. The average annual growth of Thailand’s gross national product (GNP) from 1960 to the early 1980s was almost 8 per cent and, during the period 1970 to 1985, the country’s population growth rate fell from over 3 per cent per annum to about 1.5 per cent.
Work-life balance and time use: Lessons from Thailand
Coping with poverty in the health sector: Evidence from public spending in Thailand
This paper examines whether an increase in government expenditure on health has been accompanied by greater equality between the poor and non-poor in Thailand. In the period 1992-2000, real government expenditure grew on average 10 per cent per annum, the number of health services personnel and facilities increased and the rise was far greater than the growth in population or incomes per capita. However, in the distribution of public resources on health the bottom quintile of the population received disproportionately less government spending. The widening inequality between the poor and non-poor could partly be explained by large differences in the mix of health resources used by each province in the country over time and the associated costs involved. These phenomena imply that improving equity in public health care provision needs to be given higher priority in Government spending.
Universal health-care demands in rural Northern Thailand: Gender and ethnicity
Thailand introduced a universal health-care scheme in 2001, initially with a co-payment of 30 baht (B) per physician’s visit which was abolished by the military Government in 2006. The scheme covers 75 per cent of the Thai population. Nevertheless, it lacks flexibility for the beneficiaries as it is a one-size-fits-all scheme. In this study, choicebased conjoint (CBC) analysis is used to identify the health-care demands of different subpopulations in the Mae Rim district, northern Thailand. The different demands of subpopulations, such as men, women and ethnic minorities, are revealed through the CBC analysis. Most households would pay a co-payment higher than B 30 if the services were adapted to the demand, that is, if the quality of service were improved. In general, women appear more willing to pay a higher price than men if the benefits are improved accordingly. This means that men profit much more from the policy change of dropping the co-payment than do women. Furthermore, the present analysis indicates the need for more health education training, designed to meet the needs of the Hmong people in particular.
The role of interest rates in business cycle fluctuations in emerging countries: The case of Thailand
Emerging economies have enjoyed an exceptionally favourable economic and financing environment throughout 2004 and 2005, supported by solid global growth, low interest rates and suppressed credit spreads. The easy-money policy of the United States of America in recent years has spread worldwide, creating an environment of low interest rates in international markets. If global interest rates were to take a sudden course upward, this would increase the cost of borrowing for emerging economies and lead to less hospitable financing conditions for emerging markets. The purpose of this paper is to measure the effect of shocks on global interest rates on real activity in Thailand. The analysis employs the Global Economy Model developed by the Research Department of the International Monetary Fund and finds that it would be best for Thailand to minimize the effects of rising global interest rates if it were to follow a flexible exchange rate policy.