Citation

Jaichuang S, Ratanasiri A, Kanato M. J. Med. Assoc. Thai. 2012; 95(9): 1219-1224.

Affiliation

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Medical Association of Thailand)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23140041

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Study the impact of substance abuse among migrant workers along the Thai-Laos border region in Nakhon Phanom Province. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The target population included migrant workers aged 15 years and over and were selected using the snowball technique. Data were collected from 300 migrant workers and in-depth interviews and focus group discussion were carried out. Data analysis used content analysis, descriptive statistics, and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty-five point seven percent of migrant workers used stimulants namely tobacco, energy drinks, coffee, and methamphetamine. Males were at greater risk for substance abuse than females (AOR 16.03; 95% CI 8.43-30.45) and those who received news and information from community radios and news broadcasting towers were at more risk than other media (AOR 5.38; 95% CI 2.88-10.05). The impact of substance abuse were found to be chronic cough, moodiness, lack of interest in food, headache, wakefulness, sleeplessness, tremor heart palpitation, and accidents. CONCLUSION: Health promotion strategy must be implemented to minimize the harm. Motivating behavioral modification while keeping in mind the lifestyle, work, and environment of these people could help.

Language: en