Factors Related to Health Risk Communication Outcomes among Migrant Workers in Thailand during COVID-19: A Case Study of Three Provinces

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging infectious disease, and risk communication is one of several public health emergency responses. During the pandemic, many migrant workers in Thailand experienced barriers that hamper access to health information. This study aims to explore factors related to the outcomes of health risk communication, including awareness of public health measures and preventive practices. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on migrants between January and April 2021 using cluster sampling in Phuket, Ranong, and Samut Sakhon. In the descriptive analysis, we presented the median, proportion, and ratio, while in the inferential analysis, we employed a logistic regression with robust standard errors. Although a total of 303 participants were initially included in this study, the final number was narrowed down to 288 samples due to insufficient information required for the analysis. Frequent reception of health information and primary school education showed a statistically significant association with preventive practices. Middle-aged migrant workers demonstrated a significantly lower level of preventive practices than younger migrant workers. A longer stay in Thailand was significantly related to a lower degree of awareness toward public health measures. Thus, it is necessary to promote the accessibility of health information among migrant workers in Thailand, especially those who have lived in Thailand for more than eight years, are older, and have no formal education.

Process and components of disaster risk communication in health systems: A thematic analysis

“…Communication features: Communication with the public, media and organisations must have certain characteristics to be sustainable. Creating interactive and continuous communication (Dickmann et al 2015 ; Venkatraman & Manoharan 2021 ); flexible and adaptive communication (Mitcham, Taylor & Harris 2021 ; Wray et al 2008 ); active communication based on public perception; and audience-oriented (Papwijitsil et al 2021 ; Vanderford et al 2007 ), direct and indirect multidimensional communication (Holmes et al 2009 ) have led to the institutionalisation of communications (Dickmann et al 2015 ) and should always be considered by risk communication experts in organisations.…”

“…Logistics: Supporting the process of establishing risk communications includes providing the necessary resources to carry out activities, manpower, programmes and other management items in this area (Papwijitsil et al 2021 ). In the current situation, there is a need to use support resources also (Covello 2003 ; Hobbs et al 2004 ).…”

“…In the current situation, there is a need to use support resources also (Covello 2003 ; Hobbs et al 2004 ). On the other hand, in disasters, there is a possibility of damage to communication infrastructure such as electricity, telephone and the Internet, so providing a support communication system should be considered (Papwijitsil et al 2021 ; Vanderford et al 2009)…”

Risk Communication Distributed among Migrant Workers during the COVID-19 Crisis in Thailand: Analysis on Structural and Networking Gaps

“…Channels are presented in Burmese and are relevant to the local context so are easily accessed by migrants. It can be explained from previous literature that migrant workers in these study sites mostly graduated from primary school and had Burmese ethnicity [ 31 ]. Although some stayed in Thailand for years, they were still not able to read and understand Thai [ 31 ].…”

“…It can be explained from previous literature that migrant workers in these study sites mostly graduated from primary school and had Burmese ethnicity [ 31 ]. Although some stayed in Thailand for years, they were still not able to read and understand Thai [ 31 ]. A rapid review of evidence from the EU showed that many online governmental COVID-19 materials are only available in the official language [ 22 ], so it is necessary to encourage governments to provide bilingual communication materials.…”