Villages In Thailand Research Articles

In the wake of tsunami: Lessons learned from the household decision to replant mangroves in Thailand

The Indian Ocean tsunami has increased interest in replanting mangroves as natural storm barriers. This paper analyzes the household decision to replant mangroves in four case study villages in Thailand in line with existing studies on the voluntary contribution to step-level public goods and the decision by adult members of a household to devote some labor to an outside activity. The null hypothesis that dependency on mangrove-based income has no influence on participation in replanting is rejected. Awareness of community conservation efforts and of the environmental impacts of shrimp farms also motivates participation. Allocation of male and female labors to replanting is also found to be jointly determined.

In Contact with the Dead: Nora Rong Khru Chao Ban Ritual of Thailand

Nora is a performance tradition in which dance, drama, ritual, and magic are intertwined to create a bridge between the mundane world and the supernatural. An ancestral rite known as nora rong khru chao ban is an important part of a living tradition in a certain southern villages of Thailand. For three days, the nora master prays, sings, dances, and acts out a dance-drama, while directing the ritual sequences invoking the ancestral spirits to descend from their heavenly realm to enter the trance mediums. The ritual not only gives opportunities for the nora practitioners to have a significant social and artistic function, but it also serves as a social/cultural/spiritual net that brings about an ideal of "communitas."

WORKING WITH FARMERS: THE KEY TO ACHIEVING ADOPTION OF MORE SUSTAINABLE CASSAVA PRODUCTION PRACTICES ON SLOPING LAND IN ASIA

Farmers in Asia like to grow cassava because the crop will tolerate long dry periods and poor soils, and will produce reasonable yields with little inputs. Most farmers realize, however, that cassava production on slopes can cause severe erosion, while production without fertilizer inputs may lead to a decline in soil productivity. Research has shown that cassava yields can be maintained for many years with adequate application of fertilizers, and that there are various ways to reduce erosion. Adoption of erosion control practices, however, has been minimal as farmers generally see little short-term benefits of these practices. To enhance the adoption of soil conserving practices and improve the sustainability of cassava production, a farmer participatory research (FPR) approach was used to develop not only the best soil conservation practices, but also to test new varieties, fertilization and cropping systems that tend to produce greater short-term benefits. The FPR methodology was initially developed in 2-3 sites each in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, but has now extended to about 99 villages in Thailand, Vietnam and China. The methodology includes the conducting of RRAs in each site, farmer evaluation of a wide range of practices shown in demonstration plots, FPR trials with farmerselected treatments on their own fields, field days with discussions to select the best among the tested practices, scaling-up to larger fields, and farmer participatory dissemination to neighbors and other communities. Based on the results of these trials, farmers have readily adopted better varieties, fertilization and intercropping practices, and many farmers have now adopted the planting of contour hedgerows to control erosion. The resulting increases in cassava yields in Asia over the past eight years have increased the annual gross income of cassava farmers by an estimated 250 million US dollars.

Community Drug Abuse Prevention in a Hmong Village in Thailand

The goal of this project was to implement a model of drug abuse prevention, drawing on health care, psychosocial and legal principles, in a selected village community in Thailand. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies were used within a nursing conceptual framework that included the interactions among the person, drugs, and environment. An initial community survey revealed 112 addicted individuals and identified many atrisk groups, such as children of addicted parents, adolescents, and women. Primary health care and dental health services were provided in the community, as well as drug abuse education and activities for school children and at-risk groups. Treatment camps were also established in the community on two occasions to provide detoxification and rehabilitation services for addicted individuals. At the end of the 3-year program, there were no new addicted individuals, and the number of addicted individuals decreased from 112 to 50 (after first treatment) and 26 (after second treatment). In addition, the villagers were more aware of problems related to using opium and heroin and of modern, approved drugs to treat illnesses. The prevention strategies were beneficial for the community members, as well as the addicted individuals and theirfamilies.

The area circulationtype economy of the northeast agricultural villages in Thailand

The area circulationtype economy of the northeast agricultural villages in Thailand

'The truth of our day by day lives': Abortion decision making in rural Thailand

Abortion decision making by rural villagers in Thailand must be understood within its broader economic, social and ideological context. Abortion laws are highly restrictive in Thailand, yet abortions remain common. This paper examines rural villagers' normative constructions of the act of abortion and the 'socially embedded morality' they bring to discussions about abortion. The paper is based upon seven focus group discussions with women and men and long-term ethnographic fieldwork in rural north-east Thailand. Vignettes based upon real stories of women stimulated detailed discussion in the focus groups of the circumstances under which abortion is acceptable. The paper first discusses the social construction of abortion in Thailand, definitions of abortion as Buddhist sin and ethnomedical categorizations of the foetus. Then it describes the major themes that emerged from focus group discussions and interviews on abortion decision making. The material conditions of women and men's lives, changing constructions of children and motherhood, and gender relations were all found to influence reproductive health decisions. Abortion is described through social idioms that allow villagers to reconcile the practice of abortion with acceptable social norms.

Mutation of Proline 409 to Arginine in the Meander Region of Cytochrome P450c17 Causes Severe 17α-Hydroxylase Deficiency

We elucidated the molecular basis of 17α-hydroxylase deficiency in a Chinese patient with male pseudohermaphroditism. The patient is a compound heterozygote, carrying two different mutant alleles in the CYP17 gene. The first mutation, g.6333–6341delGACTCTTTCA, located in exon 8, was reported in a Thai patient living in a rural village in Thailand. We suggest that g.6333–6341delGACTCTTTCA may be a prevalent mutation causing P450c17 deficiency in Southeast Asia. The second mutation is a missense mutation, g.5582C>G, located in exon 7, changing the codon 409 from CCG to CGG, and changing the coded amino acid from proline to arginine, i.e., P409R. This proline residue is conserved in P450c17 of other species and other human P450 proteins. Site-directed mutagenesis, in vitro expression, and functional analysis of the P409R mutant in COS-1 cells show that it has a complete lack of 17α-hydroxylase activity. The proline residue probably causes a turn in the meander region of P450c17, and we hypothesize, by comparison to homologous proteins, that the change in the protein conformation may abolish heme incorporation or may prevent P450c17 from interacting with electron donors.

Assessment of photovoltaic pumping systems in Thailand – one decade experience

By mid 1999 nearly 1000 rural villages in Thailand have been installed with photovoltaic water pumping units. The cumulative wattage is close to 1 MWp. Over 80% are in the Northeast. We conducted a survey between 1995 and 1998 on 489 units, representing over 80% of the units installed then in that region. Interviews were conducted with 360 water users from 18 villages. The results indicate that 45% of the units have been damaged and broken down. Important sources of damages are motor/pump units (35%) and inverters (19%). Inappropriate siting, lack of adequate preparation of villagers and follow-ups by respective agencies are major factors contributing to the untimely damages and breakdown.

Gender Relations and Housing: A Cross-community Analysis

Housing is not only a technological product, it is also a product of culture and gender relations. Gender differentiation in the means adopted to meet basic needs, access to religious spaces, social interaction, ownership and inheritance systems is reflected in built technology, affecting housing elements like the quality and size of space. And just as gender differentiation affects the structure of the house, so also the structure of the house reveals existing hierarchies and perpetuates differential access to opportunities. It adds to difficulties in sharing household responsibility and comes in the way of efficiently running the household, affecting women’s health and reinforcing existing gender relations. This paper studies gender relations as they affect housing in the case of the Newar community of Khokana village in Nepal. To highlight key points, illustrative examples are taken from a Karen and an Isan village in Thailand.

Physical Signs of Malnutrition Observed in Rural Villages of Thailand

Three Army dietitians deployed to Thailand in May 1997 in support of Cobra Gold, an annual military training exercise. Hie dietitians were members of military medical teams with the goal of promoting long-term public health improvements in rural Thai villages, Practicing in the absence of laboratory data made it necessary for dietitians to rely on their physical nutrition assessment skills. The physical signs of nutrient deficiency observed were grouped into three categories; 1) iron deficiency indicators such as spoon shaped, brittle, ridged nails, pale, slick appearing tongues, and pale conjunctival eye membranes, 2) protein-calorie malnutrition indicators such as temporal wasting, hollowing under eyes, easily pluckable hair, pronounced clavicle in males, and wasted dorsal interosseous, and 3) B Complex vitamin deficiency with magenta colored tongues, sore, burning mouths and tongues, and pallor complexions. Recognizing and interpreting physical signs of nutrient deficiencies lead dietitians to investigate social issues such as living conditions and food availability. Based on their findings the dietitians provided dietary treatment and education to individuals and worked closely with community leaders to outline long-range nutrition goals. This experience illustrated the need for Army dietitians to strengthen their physical nutrition assessment skills. As a result, training on recognizing and interpreting physical signs of malnutrition has increased in Army courses designed to prepare dietitians for deployment.

Hybrid renewable energy system development in Thailand

This paper describes PEA's programme on design, implementation and evaluation of pilot hybrid renewable energy systems for electrification of remote villages in Thailand. It is proposed that three hybrid energy systems namely, PV/Microhydro/Diesel/Battery, PV/Diesel/Battery and PV batteryless grid connected power stations be installed to demonstrate and evaluate advanced renewable technologies. Methodologies used in systems design, descriptions and operations of the systems are given in details.

Development of the Northeast Thailand Village Information System (NETVIS) based on the Village Database

Development of the Northeast Thailand Village Information System (NETVIS) based on the Village Database

Efficient share tenancy contracts under risk: The case of two rice-growing villages in Thailand

Two categories of Thai sharecroppers are observed to be efficient: those under high poverty and high risk, and those in a long-term relation of gift exchange with their landlord. Econometric estimates show that use of variable factors by these sharecroppers is insignificantly different from that by owner-operators and significantly higher than that by generic sharecroppers. Interpretations for this behavior are provided by models of sharecropping under safety-first and of repeated contracts with gift exchange.

The integration of psychosocial components in nutrition education in northeastern Thai villages.

The impact of a series of interactive video nutrition education programmes was studied in northeastern villages in Thailand. One of the five modules (VTR-4) was particularly child development oriented, aimed at creating maternal awareness of the child as an individual with early perceptual ability, importance of mother-child interaction, play and supplementary feeding. Village mothers with children under two years old were interviewed individually prior to the introduction of the media and at two, ten and 14 months later when the VTR-4 had been shown three, four and seven times, respectively in each village. A supplementary food product was produced and made commercially available at a low cost. Four hundred and seventy-eight men, 930 women and 3, 225 school children watched the VTR-4. Nutritional status of the children, maternal knowledge and attitude towards child rearing were assessed as well as some aspects of practice observed during home visits. There was a significant improvement in maternal awareness of infants' perceptual abilities, knowledge and attitude toward breast feeding, childplay and play materials and supplementary feeding, especially a more positive approach to tongue thrusting. Random observation during home visits revealed some changes in accordance with the media, i.e., mother-child interaction, existing play materials and the type of cradle used. Significant difference was also noted in the percentage of mothers intending to give their next baby colostrum compared to the control group at post tests 2 and 3. Although the prevalence of malnutrition among those under two years old in these villages has not decreased significantly during the study period, it was clear that the integration of psychosocial components into nutrition education had a considerable impact on maternal knowledge, attitudes and some aspects of child-rearing practice.

Sanitation Program Development for Rural Thailand in Relation to the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade

The sanitation level in the villages of Thailand is still generally low despite the past efforts of the Sanitation Division of the Department of Health. Consequently, the Royal Thai Government (RTG) is embarking on a national sanitation program with a view to minimizing the occurrence of excreta-related diseases in the rural communities, which will be implemented together with the rural water supply program, so as to produce the optimum effects on health. This dual program, otherwise known as the “Thailand Decade Plan,” will be initiated in 1985 and will continue until the end of 1991. The realization of this plan will serve as Thailand's commitment to the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD). With only 2.8 million pour-flush (PF) latrines installed up to the end of 1983, accounting for 44.3% of the total number of households, the plan calls for the provision of an additional 2.5 million PF latrines in order to achieve the target, which is to provide 75% of households with PF latrines by the end of 1991. Considering the attitudes and economic status of the Thai rural people, the proposed strategies for the implementation of the sanitation program will be the provision of material subsidies and/or “revolving funds,” with strong support from such activities as health education, especially for women and children, and the necessary training of personnel. Implementation of the plan will require an investment of approximately Baht 1,792.6 million (roughly U.S.$ 66.4 million).

A demonstration project on cancer screening in rural Thailand: preliminary report.

A demonstration multiphasic cancer screening program was conducted in a rural village in Thailand under the coordination of Bangkok's National Cancer Institute. The village's physician, mayor, and other members of the community assumed a variety of volunteer roles in order to provide logistical support. In short, this became a community-oriented program. 349 patients (100 males, 249 females) were evaluated. 6 verified cancers (2 recurrent) were detected. 47 patients received a diagnosis of a putative precancer disease, such as dysplasia of the uterine cervix, leukoplakia of the vulva, or of the oral mucosa. Cancer educational programs were provided for the entire community and more intensively for those patients who participated in the program. The most vexing problem was poor follow-up.

Identification by DNA hybridization of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in a longitudinal study of villages in Thailand.

Radioactively labeled enterotoxin genes were used to study the epidemiology of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections in two Thai villages. When E. coli that were isolated from 674 specimens were fixed on nitrocellulose paper and examined for hybridization with E. coli enterotoxin gene probes in Bangkok, the technique had a sensitivity of 94% (31 of 33) and a specificity of 100% (641 of 641), when compared with tests of E. coli for enterotoxin production in the Y-1-adrenal cell and suckling-mouse assays. However, when the same specimens were fixed directly onto nitrocellulose paper at a field laboratory and transported to the reference laboratory for assay with the gene probes, 27 specimens that contained enterotoxigenic E. coli did not hybridize with the E. coli gene probes. Enterotoxigenic E. coli that hybridized with the LT, ST-H, and ST-P probes were identified in 10% (17 of 177) of villagers with diarrhea, 7% (8 of 108) of contacts of individuals with diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli, and 3% (32 of 1,199) of persons not associated with cases of diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli. Enterotoxigenic E. coli that hybridized with the ST-II probe was not a cause of diarrhea. Alternative methods of retaining DNA on filters under field conditions are needed before this technique can be used for direct examination of specimens with enterotoxin gene probes.

Flies as a source of enteric pathogens in a rural village in Thailand.

The village of Ban Pong in northeastern Thailand was studied from January through December 1981 to determine the importance of flies as a source of enteric pathogens. The number of flies (predominantly Musca domestica) increased in kitchens and animal pens in the hot dry spring, when the incidence of diarrhea was highest in the village. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., non-O1 Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio fluvalis were isolated from fly pools in yards (69%), animal pens (38%), bathrooms (35%), and kitchens (8%). Enterotoxigenic E. coli was isolated from one fly pool in May and from another in June, when the incidence of such infections was highest in the village. Flies often carry and presumably disseminate enteric pathogens in rural Thailand.

Change and Development of Two Rice-Growing Villages in Thailand

Change and Development of Two Rice-Growing Villages in Thailand

Ⅱ. Environmental Conditions of Three Representative Villages in Thailand

Ⅱ. Environmental Conditions of Three Representative Villages in Thailand