Publication: Incidence and spectrum of health problems among travellers to Myanmar
2
Issued Date
2018-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17088305
11951982
11951982
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85042674039
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Travel Medicine. Vol.25, No.1 (2018)
Suggested Citation
Jutarmas Olanwijitwong, Saranath Lawpoolsri, Thitiya Ponam, Preechapol Puengpholpool, Chollasap Sharma, Lapakorn Chatapat, Vichan Pawan, Chatporn Kittitrakul, Watcharapong Piyaphanee Incidence and spectrum of health problems among travellers to Myanmar. Journal of Travel Medicine. Vol.25, No.1 (2018). doi:10.1093/jtm/tax077 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/46966
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Title
Incidence and spectrum of health problems among travellers to Myanmar
Abstract
© International Society of Travel Medicine, 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Background: The number of international travellers visiting Myanmar increases each year. However, information about pre-travel preparation and incidence of health problems among these travellers is limited. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at three international airports in Thailand. Travellers returning from Myanmar completed questionnaires querying demographic profile, pre-travel health preparations and health problems during their stay in Myanmar. Results: From March 2015 to May 2017, we collected and analysed questionnaires completed by 397 Thai and 467 non-Thai travellers (total: 50.1% men, median age 37 years). Non-Thai travellers were from Europe (59%), Northern America (21.4%), Asia (16.5%) and Australia or New Zealand (3.0%). Approximately 74% of non-Thais sought pretravel health information; only 36% of Thais did so. Tourism was the main purpose for travel among both Thais (58.4%) and non-Thais (85.2%). Non-Thais were more likely than Thais to travel as backpackers and perform outdoor activities such as trekking, cycling or swimming. The average length of stay in Myanmar among non-Thais was significantly longer than that of Thais (26.58 days vs 7.08 days, P < 0.001). Health problems were reported by 22.9% of non-Thais; the most common was diarrhoea (21.0%) followed by upper respiratory tract symptoms (9.2%), fever (3.4%) and skin problems (3.0%). Only 12.6% of Thais reported health problems, the most common being upper respiratory tract symptoms (7.6%), followed by diarrhoea (3.1%), fever (2.8%) and skin problems (2.0%). Most health problems were mild and self-limited in both groups. Only one Thai and eight non-Thai travellers required a doctor's visit during their trip to Myanmar, and two non-Thais required hospitalization. Conclusions: Health problems are not very common among travellers to Myanmar. Overall, health problems were reported among 18.2% of travellers in our study. Most problems were mild, with spontaneous recovery. Only two foreign travellers required hospitalization.