Understanding the primary healthcare context in rural South and Southeast Asia: a village profiling study
Issued Date
2025-09-01
Resource Type
ISSN
18763413
eISSN
18763405
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105015501428
Pubmed ID
40110615
Journal Title
International Health
Volume
17
Issue
5
Start Page
754
End Page
768
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Health Vol.17 No.5 (2025) , 754-768
Suggested Citation
Chew R., Zaman S.I., Joly M.A.A., Uddin D., Nurullah M., Callery J.J., Perrone C., Peto T.J., Phommasone K., Phyo A.P., Roobsoong W., Sen A., Vanna M., Chandna A., Pongvongsa T., Dysoley L., Day N.P.J., Lubell Y., Maude R.J. Understanding the primary healthcare context in rural South and Southeast Asia: a village profiling study. International Health Vol.17 No.5 (2025) , 754-768. 768. doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihaf025 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112163
Title
Understanding the primary healthcare context in rural South and Southeast Asia: a village profiling study
Author's Affiliation
The University of Queensland
The Open University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Shoklo Malaria Research Unit
Mahosot Hospital, Lao
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
Savannakhet Provincial Health Department
Chiang Rai College
Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit
Entomology
Action for Health Development
GroupMappers
The Open University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Shoklo Malaria Research Unit
Mahosot Hospital, Lao
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
Savannakhet Provincial Health Department
Chiang Rai College
Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit
Entomology
Action for Health Development
GroupMappers
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Understanding contextual factors is critical to the success of health service planning and implementation. However, few contextual data are available at the village level in rural South and Southeast Asia. This study addressed the gap by profiling representative villages across seven sites in Thailand (n=3), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Methods: Key informant surveys supplemented by other information sources were used to collect data from 687 villages on four key indicators (literacy rate, and percentages of attended deliveries, fully immunised children and latrine coverage), as well as access to various services. Data were analysed descriptively. Results: Sites varied considerably. Five were highly diverse ethno-culturally and linguistically, and all relied on primary health centres and village health/malaria workers as the main providers of primary healthcare. These were generally bypassed by severely ill patients for urban first-level referral hospitals and private sector facilities. While >75% of villages were near primary schools, educational attainment was generally low. Over 70% of villages at each site had mobile phone coverage and availability of electricity was high (≥65% at all sites bar Myanmar). Conclusion: These results illustrate the similarities and differences of villages in this region that must be considered in public health research and policymaking.