TY - JOUR
T1 - Inequalities in risks and outcomes in a health transitioning country
T2 - A review of a large national cohort of thai adults
AU - Yiengprugsawan, Vasoontara
AU - Friel, Sharon
AU - Seubsman, Sam Ang
AU - Sleigh, Adrian C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2013.
PY - 2013/9/17
Y1 - 2013/9/17
N2 - This article reviews inequalities in health risks and outcomes based on a large longitudinal cohort study of distance-learning adult students enrolled at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (n = 87,134). The study began in 2005 and the first follow-up was completed in 2009. Risks analyzed for health inequalities were divided into demographic, socioeconomic, geographical, behavioral, and environmental groups. Unequal risks and outcomes identified that would be amenable to policy interventions in transitional Thailand include the following: heat stress—contributing to many adverse outcomes, including occupational injury, psychological distress, and kidney disease; urbanization—unhealthy eating, sedentary lifestyles, low social capital, and poor mental health; obesity—increasingly common especially with rising income and age among men; and injury— big problem for young males and associated with excessive alcohol and dangerous transport. These substantial inequalities require attention from multisectoral policy makers to reduce the gaps and improve health of the Thai population.
AB - This article reviews inequalities in health risks and outcomes based on a large longitudinal cohort study of distance-learning adult students enrolled at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (n = 87,134). The study began in 2005 and the first follow-up was completed in 2009. Risks analyzed for health inequalities were divided into demographic, socioeconomic, geographical, behavioral, and environmental groups. Unequal risks and outcomes identified that would be amenable to policy interventions in transitional Thailand include the following: heat stress—contributing to many adverse outcomes, including occupational injury, psychological distress, and kidney disease; urbanization—unhealthy eating, sedentary lifestyles, low social capital, and poor mental health; obesity—increasingly common especially with rising income and age among men; and injury— big problem for young males and associated with excessive alcohol and dangerous transport. These substantial inequalities require attention from multisectoral policy makers to reduce the gaps and improve health of the Thai population.
KW - Cohort study
KW - Health inequality
KW - Health risks
KW - Social determinants
KW - Thailand
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920885816&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/2158244013505603
DO - 10.1177/2158244013505603
M3 - Article
SN - 2158-2440
VL - 3
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - SAGE Open
JF - SAGE Open
IS - 3
ER -