Issue In Thailand Research Articles

A pilot study of Vipassana meditation with female drug users at a rehabilitation centre, Thailand

PurposeSubstance abuse has become a major health issue in Thailand, contributing to high numbers of premature deaths and requiring considerable expenditure on treatment and rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore use of Vipassana meditation to reduce depression and improve empathy and self-awareness in drug dependent women at a rehabilitation centre.Design/methodology/approachMixed methods were employed. Data were collected in a randomised controlled trial and focus group interviews with 24 intervention subjects and 22 controls.FindingsFindings showed no significant differences in depression, empathy or mindfulness levels between intervention and control groups, but intervention subjects had a small decline in depression at one-month follow up. The focus group interviews showed that drug users had developed self-awareness, moral values and greater understanding of right and wrong acts.Originality/valueFindings suggest that Vipassana meditation which is cultural appropriate for Thai culture and religion, should be incorporated into treatments in rehabilitation centres to increase successful outcomes.

Analisis Peran IMF terhadap Fenomena Inflasi tahun 1997-1998 di Negara Thailand

Monetary crisis in Asia is a condition when the huge inflation takes place in almost all of the Southeast Asia countries. Thailand become pioneer of monetary crisis in Asia. The value of the country's currency in Thailand fell due to the government decision in adopting managed-float exchange policy of Baht currency to the Dollar America. This led the government to take the decision for seeking a help from IMF in order to recover their economic stability. However, this attempt became more complicated as a consequence of IMF regulation. IMF could not provide a solution to recover economic crisis as some of the parties disagree with the financial support by providing loan for Asia countries. The inflation also was one of the reasons behind of IMF incapability to provide solutions tackling this issue. Therefore, this paper has the aim to investigate the role of IMF towards the inflation issue in Thailand in 1997-1998. The method used to collect data is to use Internet based research with data analysis techniques using qualitative descriptive methods. The results of this study are that the IMF issued several policies including Monetary Tightening Policy, Fiscal Austerity, and Application of Letter of Intent.

Upaya Transnational Advocacy Networks dalam Mendorong Legalisasi LGBT Rights di Thailand

This paper discusses discrimination and criminalization of LGBT community due to the government change in Thailand, from absolute to constitutional monarchy. This shift caused changes in the social construction of Thai society, which led to the repression of values and norms in Buddhist beliefs whose culture of tolerance with LGBT people. This condition led the movement of Transnational Advocacy Network to promote equality and justice for LGBT through the legality of LGBT Rights. Therefore, this paper wants to identify and analyze how Transnational Advocacy Network on LGBT issues in Thailand can encourage the legality of LGBT and why this issue can be accepted within Thai society. This case analyzed by using boomerang pattern approach on Transnational Advocacy Network in Thailand. Through this network, the non-government actor in Thailand has made various efforts to encourage LGBT people to achieve equality and urged the Thai government to implement LGBT Rights legality policy through the issuance of gender equality act BE 2558 in 2015. The domestic cultural values concept used in this paper also showed that Thai people started to accept the existence of LGBT community because the values and norms of Buddhist beliefs are in fact, goes hand in hand with the LGBT Rights policy in Thailand. This could mean that values and norms of Buddhist teachings about LGBT which used to be repressed can reappear in the community.

The Religious and Ethnic Issues in Thailand: Impacts to Sustainability in South East Asian and Implications for Vietnam

Ethnic and religious conflicts in Thailand is one of the complex political phenomenons which bring the significant impacts to the region of South East Asia, incluing Vietnam. Over the past decades, the Government of Thailand has adopted a number of policies to tackle ethnic-religious conflicts and regard them as an internal affair of this country. However, in the openness of the region, such conflicts has gradually become a concern for those countries in the rgion. This has forced countries in the region to have critical research, assessment and interpretation in order to propose the appropriate responded policies to maintain the sustainability and security of the region in general and of each country in particular.

Intersections of LGBTI Exclusion and Discrimination in Thailand: the Role of Socio-Economic Status

Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Thailand experience discrimination and exclusion based on their non-normative sexes, genders, and/or sexualities. However, such studies have insufficiently analyzed how intersecting characteristics shape these experiences. We conducted 19 life story interviews with LGBTI individuals in Thailand to track how exclusion and discrimination are influenced by their socio-economic status (SES). The study documented cases of discrimination and exclusion in education, employment, health care and insurance, housing, and financial institutions. Experiences of exclusion and discrimination were not universal but were profoundly shaped by an individual’s SES. Participants with more economic and social capital encountered less anti-LGBTI exclusion and discrimination and had greater protective factors to negotiate any discriminatory experiences they encountered. Our findings point to the necessity of considering the role of SES in policy advocacy, development efforts, and future research on LGBTI issues in Thailand.

Drug Use Among Juveniles In The Observation, Protection Centers And Training Schools In Thailand: An Analysis Of Causal Factors

The problem of drugs is considered to be crucial and it has become a significant issue in Thailand. This study aims to study drug use behavior and causal factors influencing drug use behaviors of children and juveniles in the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and the Juvenile Training Schools. Quantitative research method was adopted for this study. The sample groups were children and juveniles in the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and in the Juvenile Training Schools. The results of the study found that, all causal factors; attitude towards drugs use behavior, perceived behavioral control, intention to commit to drug use behavior and outweighing factor could explain the variability of intent at 51% and could also explain the variability of drug use behaviors of children and juvenile at 54%, whereas, independent variables in relation to perceived behavioral control do significantly influence intent towards drug use behaviors. This study recommends guidelines for executives in planning a policy for those involved in the implementation of prevention, providing a therapeutic and rehabilitative solution for children and youths involved with drugs. Eventually, this study will be useful and beneficial for taking care of children and youths in the future.

Drug Use among Juveniles in the Observation, Protection Centers and Training Schools in Thailand: An Analysis of Causal Factors

The problem of drugs is considered to be crucial and it has become a significant issue in Thailand. This study aims to study drug use behavior and causal factors influencing drug use behaviors of children and juveniles in the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and the Juvenile Training Schools. Quantitative research method was adopted for this study. The sample groups were children and juveniles in the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and in the Juvenile Training Schools. The results of the study found that, all causal factors; attitude towards drugs use behavior, perceived behavioral control, intention to commit to drug use behavior and outweighing factor could explain the variability of intent at 51% and could also explain the variability of drug use behaviors of children and juvenile at 54%, whereas, independent variables in relation to perceived behavioral control do significantly influence intent towards drug use behaviors. This study recommends guidelines for executives in planning a policy for those involved in the implementation of prevention, providing a therapeutic and rehabilitative solution for children and youths involved with drugs. Eventually, this study will be useful and beneficial for taking care of children and youths in the future.

Who sets the agenda in Thailand? Identifying key actors in Thai corruption policy, 2012–2016

ABSTRACTIn the face of the growing importance of corruption in much of the developing world, Thailand included, the present paper tackles the following question: what are the major actors that actually set the agenda for corruption issues in Thailand? The agenda-setting stage is the most critical one in the policy-cycle process which influences the remaining stages of the cycle. Given the importance of both the issue in Thai context and the agenda-setting stage generally, it is surprising to observe a scarcity of existing literature not only on agenda-setting in Thailand but across the policy process generally.

BENZENE AND 1, 3 BUTADIENE CONCENTRATION AND ITS POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPACT IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Air pollution is contamination of the outdoor or indoor environment by any physical, biological or chemical agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Air pollution can cause long-term and short-term health effects. An emerging air pollution issue in Thailand is the air toxics problem resulting from transportation and industrial activities. Cancer risk of benzene at Chiang Mai City Hall was within 3.00x10 -6 – 1.20x10 -6 and Yupparaj Wittayalai School was within 9.30x10 -6 – 1.20x10 -5 respectively. The excess lifetime cancer risk of the population was calculated as the product of the benzene level and the unit risk for benzene. The results indicated that the population was estimated to receive an excess lifetime cancer risk greater than 1.0x10 -5 , which is proposed as the permissible maximum value for individual excess lifetime cancer risk by the Japan Environmental Agency (JEA). As for 1, 3-butadiene, cancer risk at Chiang Mai City Hall was within 3.00x10 -6 – 1.20x10 -6 and at Yupparaj Wittayalai School were 9.30x10 -6 – 1.20x10 -6 , respectively. The results indicated that the population was estimated to receive an excess lifetime cancer risk less than 1x10 -5 at two stations, which is proposed as the permissible maximum value by Japan Ministry of the Environment. Keywords: Benzene, 1, 3-butadiene, Cancer risk, Health impact

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Knowledge, Threat and Coping Appraisal, and Intention to Practice Healthy Behaviors Related to Non-Communicable Diseases in the Thai Population.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are important issues in Thailand and health sectors are now focusing on modifiable risks that include cognitive, affective and behavioral factors. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess knowledge about NCDs, threat appraisal, coping appraisal and intention to practice based on protection motivation theory. Content validity was determined by the mean of the item content validity index (I-CVI) from five experts. The questionnaire was pilot tested for difficulty of knowledge items and reliability test using the Kuder-Richardson (KR)-20 and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient among 30 Thai adult subjects in the health office for two sub-districts. The mean I-CVI ranged from 0.90–1.00 and difficulty of knowledge ranged from 0.3–0.9. The reliability test of knowledge by KR-20 ranged from 0.648–0.799, while Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of threat and coping appraisal and intention to practice ranged from 0.70–0.843. We compared sociodemographic data, knowledge about NCDs, threat appraisal, coping appraisal and intention to practice between 50 diabetic type 2 cases and 50 controls. T2DM cases had higher age, knowledge scores on diabetes and hypertension, threat appraisal scores on hypertension and cardiovascular disease when compared with control (p < 0.05). The questionnaire was valid and sufficiently reliable to use for data collection.

Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Daily Life Activities and Quality of Life of Thai Elderly

BackgroundThe increasing number of older people is a significant issue in Thailand, resulted in growing demands of health and social welfare services. The study aim was to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on activities of daily living and quality of life of Thai seniors.Design and methodsUsing randomised cluster sampling, one province was sampled from each of the Central, North, Northeast and South regions, then one subdistrict sampled in each province, and a household survey used to identify the sample of 1678 seniors aged 60 years and over. The Mann-Whitney U-test and binary logistic regression were used to compare and determine the association of socioeconomic variables on quality of life and activities of daily living.ResultsThe findings showed that sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors were significantly related to functional capacity of daily living. Education levels were strongly associated with daily life activities, with 3.55 adjusted ORs for respondents with secondary school education. Gender was important, with females comprising 61% of dependent respondents but only 47% of independent respondents. Seniors with low incomes were more likely to be anxious in the past, present and future and less likely to accept death in the late stage, with 1.40 Adjusted ORs (95%CI: 1.02-1.92), and 0.72 (95%CI: 0.53-0.98), respectively. However, they were more likely to engage in social activities.ConclusionsWhile socioeconomic factors strongly indicated the functional capacity to live independently, a good quality of life also required other factors leading to happiness and life satisfaction.Significance for public healthIncreasing numbers of ageing population raise a public health concern in Thai society due to the increasing demands of medical and health services regarding chronic diseases and disability. Unfortunately, few studies have mentioned socioeconomic factors on daily living activities and quality of life and none has taken place across regions in Thailand. Epidemiological population-based studies are necessary to identify social determinants and potential contributing factors that influence quality of life and disability which in turn, may utilise information shaping the policy through better support and care.

Book Review: Human Trafficking in Thailand: Current Issues, Trends, and the Role of the Thai Government

“Human trafficking” is a problem of which the Thai society has very little understanding. While it is largely a domestic problem, it is often necessary, in an attempt to understand the problem, to rely on foreign research works that collect raw data and information from Thai government officials, Thai academics, officers of international organizations based in Thailand, and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). “Human Trafficking in Thailand: Current Issues, Trends, and the Role of the Thai Government” is another piece that has been worked on from outside of the country. Even though the author, Siroj Sorajjakool, may call Thailand his motherland, presently he is a professor of religion and of counseling and family science at Loma Linda University, USA, whose Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness funds this research. In this book, Sorajjakool attempts to find answers with regards to (1) the format of human trafficking in Thailand, (2) the efforts by the government to solve the problem, and (3) the areas and the factors involved in human trafficking in Thailand, by interviewing 25 key informants from Thai government agencies, academic institutions, the United Nations, Thailand, non-governmental organizations, and some of the human trafficking victims themselves. The structure of “Human Trafficking in Thailand” consists of three parts. First, in “Understanding the Current Situation”, which encompasses Chapters 1 and 2 of the book, an overall picture of the human trafficking problem in Thailand is painted by synthesizing information from three reports, including the reports of the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the website Humantraffickinf.org. This part also addresses the issue where Thailand is both at the sending and the receiving ends of the migration flow, a labor issue that also leads to the human trafficking problem. Second, “Exploring Types of Trafficking”, Chapters 3 to 7 explains the forms of human trafficking in Thailand, which include labors in the fishery and related industries, labors in the agricultural sector, domestic workers, sex workers, child labors, and children trafficking. Third, issues with regards to “Combating Human Trafficking” are covered in Chapters 8 and 9. Here, the role of the government in solving the human trafficking problem is touched upon, and the conclusion of the research as to the theoretical reasoning of the existing problem is explored. In my opinion, as the head of the research project “Modern Slavery: Inside the Business of Sex Trade of GMS Women Entering into Thailand”, which has received funding from Thailand Institute of Justice (Public Organization), this book has synthesized the issues of human trafficking in Thailand and should not be missed by those who are interested in the issues. The author is able to put together the current situations of the problem and the efforts by the government agencies to confront them. These are interestingly and systematically composed in ways that enable readers to understand the human trafficking issues in Thailand. However, drawn by the author are a conclusion that links human trafficking to greed as well as a suggestion that “consumerism” and “materialism” are the factors leading to human trafficking, and, therefore, “sufficiency economy” is an economic philosophy that should be able to solve the problem for the Thai society. These suggestions remain arguable, as the research results derived from the “Modern Slavery” project suggest that some women who are willing to sell their body in exchange for money do so out of necessity, not for extravagant desires. Not only, as commonly understood, are many of them financially poor, but they lack the opportunities to progress in life as well.

The effect of family ownership on corporate hedging: the case of Thailand

ABSTRACTWe explore how corporate hedging decisions are affected by family ownership and control in Thailand. One crucial advantage of investigating this issue in Thailand is that hedging instruments became available only recently, long after families established their presence in the firm. Thus, endogeneity is much less likely. The evidence shows that family ownership by itself does not have a significant impact on the firm’s propensity to hedge. However, when family members have a presence on the board of directors, the firm is significantly more likely to engage in hedging activities. Furthermore, we find that the presence of institutional blockholders also increases the likelihood of hedging significantly. Our study is the first to examine the impact of family ownership and control on corporate hedging behaviour in an emerging market.

Green Returns to Education: Does Schooling Contribute to Pro-Environmental Behaviours? Evidence from Thailand

We investigate whether there are green returns to education, where formal education encourages pro-environmental behaviours using nationally representative surveys on environmental issues in Thailand. To establish the causal relationship between education and green behaviours, we exploit the instrumental variables strategy using the supply of state primary schooling i.e. the corresponding number of teachers per 1000 children, which varies over time and across regions as the instrument, while controlling for regional, cohort and income effects. We find that more years of schooling lead to a greater probability of taking knowledge-based environmentally-friendly actions a great deal, but not cost-saving pro-environmental actions. In addition, the paper finds no significant impact of formal education on concern about global warming nor the willingness to pay for environmental tax.

The Effect of Family Ownership on Corporate Hedging: The Case of Thailand

We explore how corporate hedging decisions are affected by family ownership and control in Thailand. One crucial advantage of investigating this issue in Thailand is that hedging instruments became available only recently, long after families established their presence in the firm. Thus, endogneity is much less likely. The evidence shows that family ownership by itself does not have a significant impact on the firm’s propensity to hedge. However, when family members have a presence on the board of directors, the firm is significantly more likely to engage in hedging activities. Furthermore, we find that the presence of institutional blockholders also increases the likelihood of hedging significantly. Our study is the first to examine the impact of family ownership and control on corporate hedging behavior in an emerging market.

Gaps in responses to LGBT issues in Thailand: Mental health research, services, and policies

Focusing on Thailand, we give a historical overview of LGBT identities and issues, highlight psychological, psychiatric and nursing research on LGBT mental health and services, and review LGBT-related policy statements of professional associations and state-affiliated instances dealing with mental health. Our review demonstrates that stigma, victimisation and familial rejection in Thailand are linked to stress, depression, substance use and suicidality among Thai LGBT people. Research has insufficiently covered transgender men, bisexuals and intersex people. Access to mental health services and their appropriateness are impeded by generic factors (e.g. overcrowded services, stigma, and confidentiality concerns) and low practitioner knowledge of LGBT issues, stereotyping of LGBT clients, and anticipation of practitioners not being accepting or understanding LGBT identities. LGBT-related policy statements have been issued by state-affiliated bodies, but not by professional associations. While sometimes supportive, many policy documents have used stigmatising terminology and perpetuated anti-LGBT prejudice. LGBT-specific counselling and health services have been established, therapeutic strategies have been investigated and information on LGBT issues has been disseminated, but LGBT sensitivity remains to be mainstreamed in Thai health and counselling services. Providing training on LGBT issues, publicising the Yogyakarta Principles and getting professional associations engaged with LGBT issues are among the ways forward.

Renewable cellulose source: isolation and characterisation of cellulose from rice stubble residues

SummaryThe substantial amount of agricultural waste associated with rice stubble is a critical issue in Thailand as it still contains a high amount of cellulose. Thus, the conditions for cellulose isolation from Thai rice stubble were developed. It was found that cellulose at a higher NaOH concentration (10%) or higher isolation temperature provided a higher whiteness index (WI) value and α‐cellulose content after 3 h of isolation process. Extraction using 10% NaOH at 55 °C for 3 h was determined as optimum conditions for the isolation of cellulose from rice stubble. The removal of most hemicelluloses and lignin was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The yield, WI value and α‐cellulose content of rice stubble cellulose were 30.67%, 75.69% and 90.05%, respectively. Cellulose from rice stubble is suitable for use as fibre or for the synthesis of cellulose derivatives that are widely used in food and pharmaceutical products.

Green Returns to Education: Does Schooling Contribute to Pro-Environmental Behaviours? Evidence from Thailand

We investigate whether there are green returns to education, where formal education encourages pro-environmental behaviours using nationally representative surveys on environmental issues in Thailand. To establish the causal relationship between education and green behaviours, we exploit the instrumental variables strategy using the compulsory schooling reform and supply of schooling which varies through time and across regions as the instruments, while controlling for cohort and income effects. Whilst the choice and number of instruments enable us to strongly validate instrument relevance and exogeneity, we find that more years of schooling lead to a greater probability of concerning about environmental issues and taking knowledge-based environmentally-friendly actions a great deal, but not cost-saving pro-environmental actions. In addition, individuals with more schooling express lower willingness to pay for environmental tax. The findings show that regarding this issue, there is little dissimilarity between developed and developing countries. They also strongly complement the literature that is dominated by evidence from developed countries.

Exploring Family and Community Involvement to Protect Thai Youths from Alcohol and Illegal Drug Abuse

Youth substance abuse is widely recognized as a major public health issue in Thailand. This study explores family and community risk and protective factors relevant to alcohol and illegal drug misuse in 1,778 Thai teenagers. Strong family attachment and a family history of antisocial behaviors were strongly associated with nearly all forms of substance abuse, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 5.05 to 8.45. Community disorganization was strongly associated with self-reported substance use, although involvement in prosocial activities acted as a protective factor. The findings suggest that interventions that promote family cohesion and encourage community involvement may have considerable benefits in reducing substance abuse in Thai adolescents.

The influence of mindfulness meditation on angry emotions and violent behavior on Thai technical college students

IntroductionViolence among technical college students is a significant issue in Thailand, South East Asia, and yet few interventions are available for use with this group. In this study the outcomes of a culturally appropriate intervention, mindfulness meditation (MM), on anger and violent behavior are reported. The MM intervention was delivered over three consecutive weeks to technical college students (n=40) and the effects compared to a comparison group (n=56) who attend classes as usual. MethodsBoth the intervention and comparison group completed a series of validated self-report measures on aggressive and violent behavior perpetration and victimization on three occasions (pre-intervention, 1 month and 3 month post-intervention). ResultsProgram participants reported lower levels of anger expression at one month follow-up, but there were no observed group×time interactions for self-reported violent behavior. Rates of victimization changed over time, with one interaction effect observed for reports of being threatened. ConclusionsMM may have the potential to improve emotional self-control, but is likely to only impact on violent behavior when this is anger mediated.