Development of a Community-Based Approach to Opisthorchiasis Control

Abstract

A liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrrini (OV), is the major cause of the high incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in North-eastern Thailand. The prevalence of OV infection remains high in various parts of the country, especially in wetland rural areas where a large proportion of the community work in agriculture and continue the traditional practice of eating raw or uncooked cyprinoid fish products. The national control program seems to have had little impact in many of these areas, and it has been difficult to make precise assessments of the overall effectiveness of the program. Therefore there is a need for a community-based approach to prevent infection with the parasite, ideally involving as many players as possible. Here we document an attempt to assess the best means to prevention on the basis of a community intervention in three villages in north-east Thailand, with participation of representatives of Health Promotion Hospitals of the Ministry of Public Health with dedicated staff, but also school teachers, independent government sponsored village health volunteers, and housewives responsible for cooking and diet selection. An action plan was followed, allowing detailed discussions of practical proposals, their introduction and then repeated reflection and further proposals at the individual village level.

Health Behavior Regarding Liver Flukes among Rural People in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

“…Promthet et al (2015) recommended that health education and communication for opisthorchiasis prevention in the population: community groups or organizations should be actively encouraged to participate in activity management, using existing cultural and communication media in the community, for example, Mo-lum (northeastern-style singers), public health volunteers in the villages, and community leaders. The successful community-based health education and communication programmes, implemented by teachers and volunteers (Sota et al, 2011;Duangsong et al, 2013). Lawa meodel, the communitybased control model for opisthorchiasis in the Lawa Lake region of Khon Kaen province, Thailand.…”

People Participation Towards Opisthorchis viverrini Prevention and Control in Chaiyaphum Province, Northeastern Thailand

“…An action plan was followed, allowing detailed discussions of practical proposals, their introduction and then repeated reflection and further proposals at the individual village level (Duangsong et al, 2013). In addition, the liver fluke control programme, named "Lawa model," is now recognized nationally and internationally, and being expanding to other parts of Thailand and neighboring Mekong countries.…”

“…The national control program seems to have had little impact in many of these areas, and it has been difficult to make precise assessments of the overall effectiveness of the program. Therefore there is a need for a community-based approach to prevent infection with the parasite, ideally involving as many players as possible (Duangsong et al, 2013). Therefore, people participation and their needs toward O. viverrini prevention and control in Ban Chaun sub-district and Bamnet Narong sub-district municipality, Bamnet Narong district, Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand, is performed between June 2013 and February 2014.…”

Development of a Family Nursing Model for Prevention of Cancer and Other Noncommunicable Diseases through an Appreciative Inquiry

“…In addition, cancer is an important cause of illness and mortality in Thailand and around the world (Duangsong et al, 2013;WHO, 2010). Prevention, caring, and recovery efforts depend on various family-and community-based interventions, theories and for these to be successful a participatory approach is necessary (Ahmadian and Samah, 2013;Al-Azri et al, 2014;Danawala et al, 2014;Erbil and Bolukbas, 2014;Jo et al, 2014;Lin et al, 2014;Sano et al, 2014;Sercekus et al, 2014;Simayi et al, 2013).…”