| Research Abstract |
Rapid urbanization in Laos is resulting in population and economic growth. This accompanies increase in distribution of goods and services, most of which come from outside of the country. These changes increased people's standard of living, however, increased risk of infectious disease in urban disadvantaged communities and sexual transmitted disease in urban commercial zones. The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia-Thai, in relation to the changes of urban environmental conditions, distribution of goods and services and people's proficiencies in disease prevention. We first analyzed health and social indicators by province in Laos and developed a health profile of Lao PDR. We then have conducted a field survey in Vientiane, Hue, and Phnom Penh to analyze variation of health status of the population according to the urbanization. According to a survey with 1497 households in Vientiane, village health profi
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les were developed with indicators relating to health, sanitary conditions, use of healthcare resources, access to transport, socioeconomic conditions, agricultural activities and use of appliances in daily living. City neighborhoods in Vientiane showed evidence of the spread of drug abuse, which was associated with the urbanization. The patterns of rearing domesticated animals were examined in relation to occupation of the households. Domesticated animals, poultry and dog were commonly reared among the households in Vientiane. According to health examination of 3737 people living on boats in Hue, relationships among tuberculosis and other infectious disease, infrastructure development, socioeconomic conditions, sanitary practices, disease prevention proficiencies and means of transport were examined. Variations in health status showed a web-like relationship of socioeconomic conditions, sanitary practices, and disease prevention proficiency. Participatory style research activity was recommended to help raise awareness of prevention of infectious disease in communities under rapid urbanization. Less
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