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Abstract

Background: Collaborative disease prevention and control measures for border health between Thailand and three neighboring countries (Myanmar; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), also known as Laos; Cambodia) were implemented in 2016 - 2017.

Methods: Summative evaluation and a mixed-method design aimed to evaluate the measures for border health between Thailand and three neighboring countries. The participants were public health personnel from provincial, district, and sub-district levels. Data were collected by questionnaire and interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis.

Results: The overall collaboration for border health of Thailand with Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar met the measure’s goal. The satisfaction scores for the Thai border were moderate; mean scores for the three aforementioned borders were 2.19, 2.19, 2.08 and 2.15, respectively. A concrete result was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on collaboration for border health of Thailand with Laos and Cambodia. Activities included the surveillance of communicable diseases (CDs), namely, prevention and control of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF); the development of health personnel performance; and the referral system for chronic communicable disease and emergency patients. The Thailand-Myanmar border focused on the role of international organizations in building a health dam between twin villages, international health volunteers, and accessibility to health care services by non-Thai nationals.

Conclusion: Results included the MOU, international referral system, warning and data report system on essential CDs, medical equipment support, and performance enhancement among public health personnel with a rescue unit for the three neighboring countries.

Keywords: Collaborative measures, Disease prevention and control, Border health

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