Background-People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Thailand face tremendous challenges, including HIV-related stigma, lack of social support, and mental health issues such as depression. This study aims to examine complex relationships among demographics, HIV-related stigma, and social support and their impact on depression among PLWHA in Thailand.

Objectives-. People living with HIV (PLH) in Thailand face multiple stressors. We examined findings from a randomized controlled intervention trial designed to improve the quality of life of PLH in Thailand. Methods-.A total of 507 PLH were recruited from four district hospitals in northern and northeastern Thailand and were randomized to an intervention group (n = 260) or a standard care group (n = 247). Computer-assisted personal interviews were administered at baseline, 6, and 12 months.Results-At baseline, the characteristics of PLH in the intervention and the standard care condition were comparable. The mixed effects models used to assess the effect of the intervention revealed that PLH in the intervention condition reported significant improvement in their general health (β = 2.51, P = .001) and mental health (β = 1.57, P = .02) over 12 months, compared to those in the standard care condition.Conclusions-We demonstrated successful efficacy of an intervention designed to improve the quality of life of PLH in Thailand. Interventions must be performed in a systematic, collaborative manner to ensure their cultural relevance, sustainability, and overall success.Corresponding Author: Li Li, PhD, UCLA Semel Institute, Center for Community Health, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA, Phone: (310) 794-2446; Fax: (310) 794-8297; lililili@ucla.edu. About the AuthorsAt the time of the study, Li Li, Sung-Jae Lee, and Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus were with the University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute Center for Community Health. Chuleeporn Jiraphongsa, Siwaporn Khumtong, Sopon Iamsirithaworn, and Panithee Thammawijaya were with the Thai Ministry of Public Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Nonthaburi, Thailand. Contact information for reprint requestsRequests for reprints should be sent to Li Li, University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute Center for Community Health, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (lililili@ucla.edu). ContributorsLi Li contributed to the conception and design of the study and led the study implementation and the writing of the article. Sung-Jae Lee contributed to the summarization and interpretation of study results and data analysis. Mary Jane Rotheram contributed to the conception and design of the study and the interpretation of the study results. Chuleeporn Jiraphongsa, Siwaporn Khumtong, Sopon Iamsirithaworn, and Panithee Thammawijaya contributed to the data collection activities in Thailand, and contributed to the interpretation of the study results. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLH) in Thailand face multiple challenges, including coping with HIV-related disclosure, stigma, and maintaining positive family relationships. HIV disclosure has been identified as a key stressor for PLH in Thailand, with disclosure to children being only 20%, 1 yet 85% to partners. 2,3 When PLH do not disclose their serostatus, the odds of becoming depressed increase threefold, similar to the rate when family members are ashamed of an HIV-positive...

Highlight Countries that implemented liberal testing with active case finding and prompt isolation, combined with contact tracing and quarantine, were more successful in reducing the reproduction number compared to countries that primarily relied on social distancing and lockdown measures.

BackgroundRoad traffic injuries (RTIs) have been one of the most critical public health problems in Thailand for decades. The objective of this study was to examine to what extent provincial economy was associated with RTIs, road traffic deaths and case fatality rate in Thailand.MethodsA secondary data analysis on time-series data was applied. The unit of analysis was a panel of 77 provinces during 2012–2016. Data were obtained from relevant public authorities, including the Ministry of Public Health. Descriptive statistics and econometric models, using negative binomial (NB) regression, negative binomial regression with random-effects (RE) model, and spatial Durbin model (SDM) were employed. The main predictor variable was gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and the outcome variables were incidence proportion of RTIs, traffic deaths and case fatality rate. The analysis was adjusted for key covariates.ResultsThe incidence proportion of RTIs rose from 449.0 to 524.9 cases per 100,000 population from 2012 till 2016, whereas the incidence of traffic fatalities fluctuated between 29.7 and 33.2 deaths per 100,000 population. Case fatality rate steadily stood at 0.06–0.07 deaths per victim. RTIs and traffic deaths appeared to be positively correlated with provincial economy in the NB regression and the RE model. In the SDM, a log-Baht increase in GDP per capita (equivalent to a growth of GDP per capita by about 2.7 times) enlarged the incidence proportion of injuries and deaths by about a quarter (23.8–30.7%) with statistical significance. No statistical significance was found in case fatality rate by the SDM. The SDM also presented the best model fitness relative to other models.ConclusionThe incidence proportion of traffic injuries and deaths appeared to rise alongside provincial prosperity. This means that RTIs-preventive measures should be more intensified in economically well-off areas. Furthermore, entrepreneurs and business sectors that gain economic benefit in a particular province should share responsibility in RTIs prevention in the area where their businesses are running. Further studies that explore others determinants of road safety, such as patterns of vehicles used, attitudes and knowledge of motorists, investment in safety measures, and compliance with traffic laws, are recommended.