These findings provide new and important information regarding seasonal effects on the sleep-wake cycle, the rest-activity rhythm and quality of life in older community-dwelling people living in two different Asian climates. Consequently, clinical preventions targeting such seasonal variations might be useful for improving the quality of life of older Japanese and Thai individuals.

No abstract

delivery rather than a vaginal or instrumented delivery (58.7% vs 49.0%, p¼0.041). They were less likely to be underweight (7.2% vs 14.5%, p¼0.019) compared to primiparous patients. There were no significant differences in occupation, education level, or age at first marriage. Interpretation: Unlike previous studies, the majority of patients presenting for repair at Bwaila Maternity Hospital were multiparous at the time of their fistula formation. This study highlights that the population of women with obstetric fistula is diverse and that even older and multiparous women are at-risk for developing fistula in settings where comprehensive emergency obstetric care is not available. Further understanding the factors that lead to obstetric fistula formation in multiparous patients is key to eliminating this condition in low-income countries.

Thailand’s transition to high middle-income country status has been accompanied by demographic changes and associated shifts in the nation’s public health challenges. These changes have necessitated a significant shift in public health focus from the treatment of infectious diseases to the more expensive and protracted management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in older adults. In 2010, in response to this shift in focus, the University of Michigan and colleagues at the Praboromarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development in Thailand began work on a broad-based multi-institutional programme for NCD research capacity-building in Thailand. To begin to build a base of intervention research we paired our programme’s funded Thai postdoctoral fellows with United States mentors who have strong programmes of intervention research. One direct impact of the programme was the development of research ‘hubs’ focused upon similar areas of investigative focus such as self-management of cancer symptoms, self-management of HIV/AIDS and health technology information applications for use in community settings. Within these hubs, interventions with proven efficacy in the United States were used as a foundation for culturally relevant interventions in Thailand. The programme also aimed to develop the research support structures necessary within departments and colleges for grant writing and management, dissemination of new knowledge, and ethical conduct of human subject research. In an effort to capitalise on large national health datasets and big data now available in Thailand, several of the programme’s postdoctoral fellows began projects that use data science methods to mine this asset. The investigators involved in these ground-breaking projects form the core of a network of research hubs that will be able to capitalise on the availability of lifespan health data from across Thailand and provide a robust working foundation for expansion of research using data science approaches. Going forward, it is vitally important to leverage this groundwork in order to continue fostering rapid growth in NCD research and training as well as to capitalise upon these early gains to create a sustaining influence for Thailand to lead in NCD research, improve the health of its citizens, and provide ongoing leadership in Southeast Asia. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12961-019-0464-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the most significant causes of death globally.In Thailand, NCDs have increased 10.4% and 11%, respectively, since 2002. Thus, there is a compelling need in Thailand to enhance the capacity for research aimed at improving both NCD prevention and care. A survey was conducted of current multi-disciplinary doctorally prepared faculty (n=115) to determine perceived NCD research training needs. The results of this survey showed that the greatest exposure to NCD was in clinical practice, followed by teaching NCD content, and then research. Few researchers published their findings in journals.All responders reported needing significant support in research design, methods and statistical analysis procedures. These results were used to guide the development of a post-doctoral training program for NCD research in Thailand. After three years of the training program, we found that trainee applicants' preferences and choices were aligned with the original surveybased planning.