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Chronic conditions and lifestyle behaviors have a detrimental influence on the quality of life for seniors because of physical disability and emotional concerns. This study aimed to assess the influence of chronic illness, smoking, and alcohol use on quality of life among Thai seniors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three communities, selected purposively from the North, Northeast, and Central regions, and 1278 senior participants were recruited. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the influence of factors on quality of life with adjusted covariates. Most participants were aged 60–70 years and married, earned 500–1,000 Baht/month (US $17–$35), had one chronic illness, and were nonsmokers and nondrinkers. Surprisingly, there appeared to be no link between chronic conditions and quality of life. Current drinkers were more likely to have a high quality of life, with Odds Ratios of 2.16 for men and 2.73 for women. Seniors of both genders who were current drinkers were more likely to accept death and dying and this improved their quality of life. Social participation in alcohol consumption may encourage seniors to share their concerns about death and dying and eventually accept this as a foundation of life.

Background The increasing number of older people is a significant issue in Thailand, resulted in growing demands of health and social welfare services. The study aim was to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on activities of daily living and quality of life of Thai seniors. Design and methods Using randomised cluster sampling, one province was sampled from each of the Central, North, Northeast and South regions, then one subdistrict sampled in each province, and a household survey used to identify the sample of 1678 seniors aged 60 years and over. The Mann-Whitney U-test and binary logistic regression were used to compare and determine the association of socioeconomic variables on quality of life and activities of daily living. Results The findings showed that sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors were significantly related to functional capacity of daily living. Education levels were strongly associated with daily life activities, with 3.55 adjusted ORs for respondents with secondary school education. Gender was important, with females comprising 61% of dependent respondents but only 47% of independent respondents. Seniors with low incomes were more likely to be anxious in the past, present and future and less likely to accept death in the late stage, with 1.40 Adjusted ORs (95%CI: 1.02-1.92), and 0.72 (95%CI: 0.53-0.98), respectively. However, they were more likely to engage in social activities. Conclusions While socioeconomic factors strongly indicated the functional capacity to live independently, a good quality of life also required other factors leading to happiness and life satisfaction. Significance for public health Increasing numbers of ageing population raise a public health concern in Thai society due to the increasing demands of medical and health services regarding chronic diseases and disability. Unfortunately, few studies have mentioned socioeconomic factors on daily living activities and quality of life and none has taken place across regions in Thailand. Epidemiological population-based studies are necessary to identify social determinants and potential contributing factors that influence quality of life and disability which in turn, may utilise information shaping the policy through better support and care.

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 327–334 Depression among adolescents: a study in a Bangkok slum community Background: Adolescents represent approximately one-fifth of the total population of Thailand. Few comprehensive surveys of adolescents living in Bangkok slums are available in the literature. To appropriately consider adolescents’ development in urban planning strategies calls for the study of the relationship between depression and quality of life (QoL) of adolescents in slums. This study aimed to assess the level of depression and to describe the relationship between depression and QoL for the adolescents in a slum community of Bangkok. Methods: This is a descriptive study. Data from eight hundred and seventy-one adolescents in a Bangkok slum community were randomly collected by a survey that utilized a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale for depression level, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQoL-BREF) assessment, Thai version, for quality of life. Results: Thirty-four point nine percent of all respondents exhibited depressive symptoms: 27.6% of males and 40.4% of females. Twenty-six percent of adolescents indicated that they had a ‘poor’ quality of life. A Chi-squared test yielded a statistically significant difference in the level of depression according to the level of QoL when both genders were considered together (p

This study aimed at exploring the most common content of Masters and Doctoral level research articles published by an internationally recognized public health sciences journal of a Thai academic institute. The objective was to assess the current status of public health research. A content analysis of 26. abstract s from 2009 to 2015 was classified into content, objective, research field, methodology, study population, statistics used and study area. The study revealed that 66% of submissions were Master's level contributors and 34% from Doctoral level. The top study content at Master's level was ‘health behaviors’, while ‘environmental health’ was popular at. The study objective at both levels was to identify cause and reasoning. Study populations were mostly conducted amongst adults. The majority of studies at Master's level used quantitative research methods while Doctoral level students used inferential statistics. The majority of articles were published in the ASEAN Citation Index database whilst a few were published in Scopus and the Web of Science databases. Topics relating to “alternative medicines’ and ‘environmental health’ were mostly published in Scopus. Further strategies regarding encouraging students to publish in Scopus and Web of Science and emphasis on encouraging in-depth health behavior and community health research conducted in aging should be addressed since these can provide preventive services and develop a viable public health field for the future.

The current situation is looked at from the perspectives of the different actors, in terms of commitment to finding a solution and to carrying on funding when change appears distant. The attitude of the different actors to the standard durable solutions is examined; international humanitarian agencies have long favoured local integration as a sustainable solution, one which the Royal Thai Government (RTG) implacably opposes. Resettlement has had some effect, but there is a question mark over its continued operation, and it has not reduced camp size, because new arrivals have replaced those who have gone. Gradually, there is an acceptance among most actors, including long-term donors, that voluntary repatriation must be at the heart of any sustainable solution; the challenge remains how to make Myanmar feel like a safe place of return for those who have fled, and for those born in the camps who have no memory of Myanmar.

The current levels of support within the settlements are assessed from the perspective of the displaced persons. In general, despite differences in approach from different actors, and the RTG’s stated policy of confinement and restriction of movement and access to services that might encourage local integration, the displaced persons themselves feel they have been well supported in terms of basic food, shelter, education and healthcare. However, problems resulting from long confinement are starting to impact, in terms of loss of self-confidence and self-reliance. There are also signs that funding is slowing down, partly related to the economic crisis in Europe and North America. Women, in particular, have experienced some disadvantage as a result of the way agencies and the RTG have supported traditional, male-dominated administration of the camps. There is consensus amongst all actors that change is needed now.

The root cause of this issue remains unresolved; the conflict within Myanmar. At the same time, there are signs of change in Myanmar, with the release of Aung San SuuKyi and the increasing engagement of ASEAN and the wider international community. Donors and funders are urged to maintain their support for now, and to increase pressure through trade and other links to make Myanmar a safe place for repatriation. The agencies are encouraged to continue moving from emergency response to developmental programmes, including within Myanmar. Collaboration on solutions, such as CCSDPT/UNHCR’s 5-year plan, is encouraged as long as all options are considered, not just local integration. The RTG must continue to be flexible, and to see strategies to encourage self-reliance of the displaced persons as preparation for eventual repatriation of the majority once Myanmar is free of conflict.

Generally, the displaced persons themselves are relatively contented with the way they have been treated in the settlements by all the various stakeholders. They have found relative safety and security, and have access to basic life requirements such as food and shelter and, increasingly, to education, health care and other services. However, the displaced persons are in limbo, and have been for a long time in some cases, and lack hope and motivation, leading to increasing social and community issues in the shelters. For the donors, the issue has become a strain on resources, and a peripheral issue in world affairs. For the UN agencies and NGOs, with no solutions in sight, this protracted situation has taxed resources and patience. For the RTG, also, there are more major issues to attend to. All parties have different perspectives, and communication between them is poor. The RTG’s approach has been more flexible in practice than is its policy, but it has been unable to agree a solution with the other actors.

The funding of the humanitarian and developmental programmes with the displaced people is examined in more detail, including how bodies such as UNHCR receive their funding. The relationship between the RTG and international actors is explored, looking in particular at the different perspectives that exist and how these have made joined-up policy and practice more difficult. The relationship between NGOs and other actors is also reviewed, and between them and the RTG, showing that communication has been a weakness. The 5-year strategic plan of CCSDPT/UNHCR is evaluated in terms of its scope and likelihood of success; it fails to put forward a solution based on a combination of the durable solutions. The relationship of actors with the RTG remains a barrier, in terms of culture and understanding of each others’ perspectives.

Adolescents represent approximately one-fifth of the total population of Thailand. Few comprehensive surveys of adolescents living in Bangkok slums are available in the literature. To appropriately consider adolescents' development in urban planning strategies calls for the study of the relationship between depression and quality of life (QoL) of adolescents in slums. This study aimed to assess the level of depression and to describe the relationship between depression and QoL for the adolescents in a slum community of Bangkok.This is a descriptive study. Data from eight hundred and seventy-one adolescents in a Bangkok slum community were randomly collected by a survey that utilized a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale for depression level, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQoL-BREF) assessment, Thai version, for quality of life.Thirty-four point nine percent of all respondents exhibited depressive symptoms: 27.6% of males and 40.4% of females. Twenty-six percent of adolescents indicated that they had a 'poor' quality of life. A Chi-squared test yielded a statistically significant difference in the level of depression according to the level of QoL when both genders were considered together (p0.001). Multiple regression analysis shown the association between depression and three factors: quality of life (p0.001), position in the family (p = 0.04) and the adolescent's place of origin (p = 0.02).These findings suggest channels to help adolescents with depression in Bangkok slum communities. Specifically, based on the findings, interventions for adolescent depression may be more effective if gender, age group and family participation in the adolescent's development are considered in the planning and implementation of health intervention programs.

The purpose of this research was to study the demography, financial status, social status, knowledge of amphetamines, perceived harmfulness of amphetamines, and life skills in the prevention of drug abuse in adolescents. The factors leading to drug use among young people were also studied. The study group was composed of 354 subjects aged 12 to 22 years, living in 2 slums in Bangkok. The research showed that about 7% of the sample group had used drugs before. Four percent had never used drugs, but someone had tried to talk them into using them. Almost 20% had friends who had used drugs, and 11% had friends who were still using drugs. About 13% of the adolescents in the study group had family members who used drugs and another 9% had family members who were still using drugs. In our study, we found that the most common drug group was amphetamines. On average, the participants had a low level of understanding about drug abuse, especially of the symptoms, side effects, and legal penalties. Most of the adolescents realized how harmful amphetamines and other drugs were and had a high degree life skills. Factors influencing adolescent drug use were (1) personal factors, such as monthly income/allowance and life skills; (2) family environment, such as drug abuse history in the family; and (3) social environment, such as a drug abuse history among friends. When studying the life skill factors of the adolescents, which is an independent factor capable of influencing the experience with drugs, the researchers found that the time spent with other members of the family and the family members' drug experiences were the only factors leading to life skills in the prevention of drug abuse in adolescents. In addition to letting children learn on their own, training them to acquire life skills is beneficial when faced with problematic situations. Creating relationships between adolescents and other members of the family, friends, and society can increase their life skills, diminishing the risk of drug abuse.