Pulmonary Tb Among Myanmar Migrants in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand: a Problem Or Not for the Tb Control Program?
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN J TROP MED PUBLIC HEALTH PULMONARY TB AMONG MYANMAR MIGRANTS IN SAMUT SAKHON PROVINCE, THAILAND: A PROBLEM OR NOT FOR THE TB CONTROL PROGRAM? Ranee Wongkongdech1, Sompong Srisaenpang1 and Sasithorn Tungsawat2 1Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen; 2The Office of Disease Prevention and Control 6 Khon Kaen Province, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand Abstract. Most transnational migrant workers in Thailand are from Myanmar, a country with a high tuberculosis prevalence. We investigated the prevalence of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among Myanmar migrants in communi- ties of Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand. Symptom screening for those with a productive cough of more than 2 weeks was conducted by face-to-face home interviews with 4,874 participants aged at least 15 years. Most subjects (75%) were aged 15-34 years (75%), 52% were male and 60% were mar- ried. Subjects typically lived with fellow nationals in crowded, poorly ventilated apartments or row houses. Ten subjects had suspected TB, giving a prevalence rate of 0.2%. Ninety-seven percent were working in Thailand legally but 80% had no health insurance. None had sought community health services; all preferred self- medication and private clinics due to stigma associated with TB, medication costs and health center waiting times. Providing information about health insurance and introducing TB prevention and control in this group should be considered. Further studies are needed to develop a TB control program and communicable disease surveillance among migrant communities, in Thailand. Keywords: pulmonary tuberculosis, prevalence, symptom screening, Myanmar migrant workers, Thailand INTRODUCTION source of most of Thailand’s transnational migrant workforce and has a 0.384% inci- Thailand ranks in the top 22 tuber- dence and 0.525% prevalence for TB (Bu- culosis (TB) prevalence countries world- reau of Tuberculosis, 2011). The potential wide with an estimated TB incidence implications for TB control in Thailand and prevalence of 0.124% and 0.182%, are serious. respectively (WHO, 2011); this is 2.5 to 4 In Samut Sakhon, a small coastal times higher than that of Europe and the province in central Thailand, the new TB Americas (WHO, 2011). Myanmar is the case notification rate among non-Thais at a private hospital was 7 times higher Correspondence: Dr Sompong Srisaenpang, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty than the overall rate for Asia (Arshad et al, of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 2010; Samut Sakhon Provincial Public 40002, Thailand. Health Office, 2011). This province ranks Tel: +66 (0) 86 861 0484 second only to Bangkok in foreign mi- E-mail: [email protected] grants (Institute for Population and Social 296 Vol 46 No. 2 March 2015 PULMONARY TB AMONG MYANMAR MYGRANTS Research, 2011). Although the actual num- and are often illiterate (Chimbanrai et al, ber of illegal migrants, or those outside 2008). Many have no health insurance of the governmental reporting system, is (Tesana and Butsorn, 2007), or legal mi- unclear (Huguet and Chamratrithirong, grant status (Aung et al, 2009). Inadequate 2011); it is estimated the number may reporting systems and lack of integration be twice or triple the known number with health services affects delivery TB (Chamratrithirong et al, 2011), possibly control services (Srisaenpang et al, 2006; 400,000 persons in total (Srakeao, 2011). Bureau of Tuberculosis, 2011). About 90% of these migrants are from We conducted this study to investi- Myanmar a country with one of the gate the prevalence and distribution of highest burdens of TB and multi-drug- suspected pulmonary TB (PTB) cases and resistant (MDR) TB in the world (WHO, factors that influence TB control among 2008). About 70% of them live in Mueang Myanmar migrants in Mueang District, District, which has 27 community clusters Samut Sakhon, Thailand. This informa- consisting of 500-15,000 people (Senate tion can inform TB control authorities in Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2009). Thailand and Myanmar to improve TB This province ranks second in Thailand control in these countries. for gross domestic product (GDP) (Office of the Committee on National, Economic MATERIALS AND METHODS and Social Development, 2009), derived primarily from export of processed sea- Study site food products (Rodnual, 2008). Fishing This study was conducted in Mueang and fish processing drives demand for District, Samut Sakhon Province, a central, cheap labor from neighboring countries. coastal province along the Gulf of Thai- The migrants come for better work and land with large fishing and fish process- compensation opportunities than those ing industries that attracts many migrant available in their home countries and workers. The study was implemented are more willing to do hard, risky and with the agreement and support of the dirty work (Kerdmongkhol, 2009). Samut governor, the chief of the provincial health Sakhon is first in Thailand for seafood office, the chief of Ban Kampra Tambon processing and wholesaling. There are Health Promotion Hospital and the vil- about 5,000 factories in the province in lage headman. addition to “loang”, high-roofed green- houses, or, small house-based enterprises Study design (Archavanitkul and Wachanasara, 2009). This was a cross-sectional survey us- ing questionnaire data obtained through Several factors increase the risk of TB face-to-face interviews. Identified “sus- spread among these migrant communi- pected” TB cases were then followed up ties, such as overcrowding and poorly ven- with an in-depth interview. tilated housing (Chamratrithirong et al, 2011). Some migrants are poorly nour- Participants ished, and do not present to health centers Participants consisted of 4,874 Myan- when they have health problems, or even mar migrants selected using a one-stage when their health worsens (Aung et al, cluster sampling method. Inclusion cri- 2009). They may lack health knowledge, teria were Myanmar migrants without cannot communicate in the Thai language, Thai nationality living in Mueang District, Vol 46 No. 2 March 2015 297 SOUTHEAST ASIAN J TROP MED PUBLIC HEALTH aged at least 15 years who had migrated to dation. Interview times were restricted to Mueang District for work, or “followers” Sundays, before or after work. (family members or children who came Given the immigration status of with the worker migrants), and lived in this population, full confidentiality was the community for at least three months. stressed to the participants and verbal Both legal and illegal migrants were in- rather than written consent was obtained cluded in the study. from each subject. Each participant was Instrument given a gift for their participation. (A The survey questionnaire covered 3 pen and health pamphlets value about main areas: 1) suspected PTB symptoms, THB50.00). Participants with suspected such as productive cough of more than PTB were advised to seek appropriate 2 weeks, blood stained sputum, chest health care and interviewed in more pain, breathlessness, hemoptysis, fever, detail. night sweats, tiredness, weight loss, fa- Data analysis tigue and loss of appetite (WHO, 2013); All questionnaire data were checked 2) socio-demographic details, work and and double entered into Microsoft Excel legal status, health insurance, occupation, version 2007 and validated using Epi-Info type and period of residence in Thailand; (version 3.5.4) and then entered into Stata and 3) a history of TB treatment in their (version 13.0) to perform statistical calcu- family or workplace. lations. Follow-up interviews were orga- The questionnaire was developed us- nized into a case study narrative format. ing WHO and Thai Public Health Ministry Ethical review guidelines regarding TB symptomology. The study was approved by the Khon The questionnaire was developed in Thai Kaen University Ethics Committee for initially. To assure validity it was then Human Research (HE 561050). translated into the Myanmar language by a health worker with Thai/ Myanmar lan- RESULTS guage fluency and then back-translated from Myanmar to Thai by another worker. Sociodemographics, employment and ac- Data collection commodation The data collection team consisted Ninety-seven point five percent of po- of 3 interpreters, foreign health provin- tential participants agreed to participate. cial government employees who could There were 4,874 participants. Fifty-one communicate well in both the Thai and point seven percent were men, 75% were Myanmar language, 7 foreign volunteers aged 15 and 34 years (mean: 28.87; range (Myanmar) and the first author (RW). 15-85 years). Sixty-one percent were First, field practice was carried out un- married, 36% were single and 3% were til team members could all interview widowed or divorced. Ninety-five percent accurately. Then, the 11 member team reported having a legal immigration sta- interviewed participants face-to-face, at tus; 97% had a passport, 96% had a Thai their work if factory owners gave permis- labor card and 95% had a Thai temporary sion, or at the participants’ homes, if the registration card TR 38/1. Three percent researchers were not permitted to access reported having no legal documents. The the factory or Loang-provided accommo- researchers could not verify the above 298 Vol 46 No. 2 March 2015 PULMONARY TB AMONG MYANMAR MYGRANTS Table 1 Participant demographics, employment and accommodation data. Characteristics Number (%) Gender