Access to malaria diagnostic testing, anti-malarial treatment and long-lasting insecticidal nets among Immigrant workers in Yala province, southern Thailand

Abstract

Background: In Southeast Asia, trans-border migration from neighboring countries into Thailand is a well-known phenomenon. Population movement and migration is a factor having significant implications for vector-borne disease transmissions. Objectives: This study aims to assess migrants’ access to malaria diagnosis and treatment in Yala province who have had fever in the previous three months and to evaluate the coverage and utilization of ITNs (insecticidal nets). Methodology: A survey was conducted among 414 immigrant workers, in which information was sought on socio-demography, history of fever, health seeking behaviours, net ownership and utilization. Survey analysis was employed. Results: As key findings, 36.5% (166) migrants got fever in the last 3 months, 51.3% (89) sought healthcare at health facilities, 44.9% (80) got tested for malaria, 19.1% (36) were malaria positive and 60.3% (22) could receive anti-malarial treatment. When seeking healthcare, 48.3% (43) were through village health volunteers and 46.1% (41) migrants went to malaria posts and health promoting hospitals. Regarding nets, 40.7% (181) owned ITNs, but only 34.7% (57) used ITNs every night. Of the surveyed population, 23.6% (116) were forest-goers, 64.7% (75) had fever in the last 3 months and 31.8% (24) were malaria positive. Fifty percent (59) forest goers owned ITNs, but 28.1% (33) used ITNs while in the forest. Conclusions: More than half of migrants could access to malaria diagnosis and testing though ITN utilization was low. Most of the migrants sought diagnosis and treatment via community-based malaria services under National Malaria Elimination Program. BCC (Behaviour Change Communication) activities need to be enhanced to improve migrants’ behaviours since only one-third of migrants who owned ITNs used ITNs every night.