Epidemiology of the Hill Tribe HIV/AIDS
Populations, Thailand
Tawatchai Apidechkul DrPH (Epidemiology)*,**
* School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
** Center of Excellence for the Hill tribe Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Affiliation :
Objective : A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the situation and factors related to the death among
the HIV/AIDS Hill tribe in Northern Thailand.
Material and Method: A systematic data-reviewing approach was used to identify the information from the rosters of ARV
clinics, OPD cards, and laboratory reports from 16 hospitals in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The data were collected
from the first reported HIV/AIDS case of the Hill tribe to the end of 2010. A logistic regression models were used to identify
associations. A p-value <0.05 was considered as a statistical significance in multiple logistic regression models.
Results : Three thousand one hundred thirty cases were included in the present study. The majority of patients were Akha
(46.0%) followed by Lahu (19.7%), 54.6% were males, 44.6% were 26 to 35 years old. The major risk factor of HIV infection
was sexual intercourse (91.7%); 33.3% were still alive at the date of data collection, 30.7% were diagnosed with pulmonary
TB. Regarding survival status, females had a better surviving rate than males with adjusted OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.19-1.66.
Those that had the route of transmission as “mother-to-child” and “IDU” had greater chance of survival compared
to those who contracted HIV from “sexual intercourse”, with adjusted OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.56-2.18, and adjusted
OR = 8.45, 95% CI = 1.55-46.13, respectively.
Conclusion : Thailand needs to develop an appropriate model for providing care at the earlier stage of HIV/AIDS infection
to prevent early death for the Hill tribe population.
Keywords : HIV/AIDS, Death, TB, Hill tribe, ARV, Thailand
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