Associations of the Neighborhood Environment With Substance Use: A Cross-sectional Investigation Among Patients in Compulsory Drug Detention Centers in Thailand / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To identify the associations of characteristics of the neighborhood environment with substance abuse among clients receiving treatment for drug abuse in Thailand. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1128 drug addicts from 28 neighborhoods who were receiving treatment at all 7 compulsory drug detention centers in Thailand. A trained interviewer conducted structured interviews with the subjects about substance use and the perceived neighborhood environment in their community. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of the neighborhood environment on substance use. RESULTS: The majority of participants, 53.8% only used methamphetamine pills, 31.3% used other illicit drugs as well as methamphetamine pills, and 14.9% used an illicit drug other than methamphetamine. Three neighborhood characteristics were associated with substance use. A 1-unit increase in the perceived neighborhood cohesion score was associated with a 15% reduction in methamphetamine pill use and an 11% reduction of the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conversely, a 1-unit increase in perceived neighborhood crime predicted 19 and 14% increases in the use of methamphetamine pills and the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug, respectively. In addition, a 1-unit increase in the scores for stigma surrounding addiction corresponded to a 25% increase of the use of methamphetamine pills and a 12% increase in the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. CONCLUSIONS: Substance use among drug addicts was influenced by characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, prevention and intervention strategies should be designed based on a consideration of the impact of neighborhood context on substance use behaviors.

Associations of the Neighborhood Environment With Substance Use: A Cross-sectional Investigation Among Patients in Compulsory Drug Detention Centers in Thailand / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES@#To identify the associations of characteristics of the neighborhood environment with substance abuse among clients receiving treatment for drug abuse in Thailand.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1128 drug addicts from 28 neighborhoods who were receiving treatment at all 7 compulsory drug detention centers in Thailand. A trained interviewer conducted structured interviews with the subjects about substance use and the perceived neighborhood environment in their community. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of the neighborhood environment on substance use.@*RESULTS@#The majority of participants, 53.8% only used methamphetamine pills, 31.3% used other illicit drugs as well as methamphetamine pills, and 14.9% used an illicit drug other than methamphetamine. Three neighborhood characteristics were associated with substance use. A 1-unit increase in the perceived neighborhood cohesion score was associated with a 15% reduction in methamphetamine pill use and an 11% reduction of the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conversely, a 1-unit increase in perceived neighborhood crime predicted 19 and 14% increases in the use of methamphetamine pills and the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug, respectively. In addition, a 1-unit increase in the scores for stigma surrounding addiction corresponded to a 25% increase of the use of methamphetamine pills and a 12% increase in the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Substance use among drug addicts was influenced by characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, prevention and intervention strategies should be designed based on a consideration of the impact of neighborhood context on substance use behaviors.

KAP Study About Sex, Reproduction and contraception in The Teenagers : Case study in Khon Kaen Vocational Students.

 This study examines the khowledge, atitude and practice (KAP) of sexual activity and family planning among vocational students in Khon Kaen.  The study process consists of 4 part : 1) collection of KAP information using self reporting pretested questionnaire, 1) verification of practice information using anthropological procedure, 3) health education about family psychology, sex education, family planning, unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion and sexually transmitted diseases, and 4) family planning service.  The response to the same three questionnaire during one year period was completed in 44.82% of the students (502/1120).  The detail of the study results will be presented.  The other conclusion which can be drawn from this study is that the sexual practice information can be collected more reliably by the combination of sociological and anthropological methods. 

Effect of Village Fishery Project to Socio-Economic and Health

 The Objective of this research was to study the effect of village fishery project (VEP) on socio-economic and health of the villagers. Two hundred-and-six households in five villages which VFP have been started since 2527 and 83 house holds in two villages which did not have VFP (control villages) in KhonKaen Province were systematic sampling. The study was carried out by using questionairs to interview the villagers, Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement, food consumption of pregnant women , lactating women and preschool children , physical examination and fecal examination. There was no significant difference between the average income in VEP villages and those of control villages (P \> 0.05). The villagers in VEP villages were more active in participating in community organizations and specnt more income for village development than those in control villages. Lactating women and pregnant women in both VEP and control villages received sufficient energy, protein, vitamin B1 and niacin compared to World Health Organization recommendation , and the figures in both group were nonsignificant. The weight for height of the chidren in all seasons in VEP villages and control villages were nonsignificant (P \> 0.05). There was no significant difference between the general health of the villagers in VEP villages and those in control villages. Endoparasitic infestation in both VEP villages and control villages. Endoparasitic infestation in both VEP villages and control village were decrease

Study groups of mother or relatives whose level of education are higher

 It was believed that more highly educated mothers could take care of their children better than less educated mothers.  Other factors involved the growth development of children during infant and preschool years.  Two villages in Khon Kaen provinces were studied and compared.  The target groups were children below five years and their mothers.  Only mothers in a studied village were given health education.  The result showed that children in a studied village were slightly more developed and healthier than children in a controlled village.  However, when the mothers education levels were compared, data showed that mothers with lower education could look after their children better than those in a higher education group.  This happened in both villages.  It might be that lower educated mothers had more time for their children and tended to follow the local health worker’s teaching.  In contrast the mothers in the higher educated group had more chance to work outside and left children with their cousins.  There fore, this might effect children’s growth development and health.

The Comparative Study of Quality of Life between the Medical Students and General Population in Samleam Community at the Same Age Group

Background: Medical knowledge is growing dramatically. Medical students need to adjust their learning behavior as well as their private life to cope with this transition. Thus, their quality of life may differ from the general population. Objective: To compare quality of life between medical students and general population in the same age groupDesign: Cross-sectional analytical studySetting: Khon Kaen Medical School and a selected urban community in Khon Kaen downtown.Population and Samples: Systematic sampling was performed for both groups, at equal samples of 118 each. Tool: Self-administered questionnaire which compose of demographic data and WHOQOLBREF Thai was employed.Analysis: Mean, SD, median, percent as well as 95% CI, odds ratio, chi-square were employed.Results: Of 236 questionnaires distributed, 199 were returned with response rate of 86.4% for medical students and 82.2% for youth group. Age distribution was similar with the median of 21 and 22. Economic status of the medical students seemed superior to youth group. More than 60% of medical students perceived themselves as good quality of life which was significantly higher than that of the youth (35.1%) (p