ABSTRACT
Background: Thailand HIV/AIDS epidemics have been driven in specific populations from homo/bisexuals through pregnant women, youths and mobile population. Strategic actions for impact mitigation on people living with HIV/AIDS and their households are needed. Methodology: Economic impact of HIV/AIDS morbidity on case (with HIV/AIDS)/ control households in rural Thailand and coping mechanisms was conducted in two districts of Phayao province in Northern Thailand: among 300 households in Mueng district (or active villages) and 300 households in Pong district (or less active villages). Main economic indicators from the historical and alternative simulation with 20 percent decrease and increase in health care to change of historical-alternative simulation was performed. Results: Main economic indicators from the historical simulation showed that total income, consumption and saving per capita in case respectively was 69, 47 and 265 percent lower than in control. From alternative simulation with 20 percent decrease in health care showed negative percentage change of historical-alternative simulation while alternative simulation with 20 percent increase in health care showed positive change. From follow-up studies, action to minimize distress was followed and mobilization of control to case household was demonstrated. Scope of accessibility was created and sustained such as medical services e.g. VCT, OI prophylaxis, ART and specific laboratory support including CD4 and viral load. Conclusion: The studies showed that total income, consumption and saving per capita in case was lower than in control households and increase in health care support was an important mechanism to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS to households. Strengthening the partnership between the communities, governments, donor agencies, NGO, private sectors in mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS are potential focus areas for strategic mainstreaming at the household level. The remaining questions are how social networks affect the impact, vulnerability and responses to HIV/AIDS and poverty. The extension of studies beyond rural economy and dissemination of information are essential further actions.
ABSTRACT
The purposes of this study are to describe indicators of healthy women at reproductive age in each dimension affecting their healthy condition and to examine the internal structure of various dimensions of a reproductive age construct. A survey was conducted to collect data from women aged 13 to 49 years in urban and rural areas in the four regions of Thailand. The statistical technique used to analyze data was Structural Equation Modeling. The results of the analysis indicated that the indicators could reflect the health status in the dimensions of the physical and the mental, including the social. The results for the categorization of the indicator groups for the group of women aged from 13 to 18 years and 19 to 49 years yielded the following group of six dimensions: physical health, mental health, social health, health-promoting behavior, health risk behavior and reproductive health. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the theoretical models of the Healthy Women in Reproductive age construct. This study hypothesized that there are differences between adolescents and adult women in term of “Healthy during Reproductive age”. Thus, the analysis was divided into two models, one for adolescents and the other for adults. The model of adolescents aged 13-18 years was revised by measuring the model fit using goodness of fit index (GFI=0.96), adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI=0.95) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA=0.029). The final model showed that social health had a direct positive effect on mental health (β=0.46, p \< 0.01). The model of women aged 19-49 years measured model fit using GFI=0.96, AGFI=0.95 and RMSEA=0.038. The final model showed that social health had a direct positive effect on mental health (β=0.36, p \< 0.01). These indicators would prove valid, reliable and useful if they were to be used by people in the community by modifying and supplementing some parts to suit the variable conditions and lifestyle of that particular community.