EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTH POLICY IN SOUTH KOREA REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF LIVER FLUKE INFECTION : COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOUTH KOREA AND THAILAND

Abstract

Foodborne Trematodiases still attacks in many poor and developing countries globally. In South Korea, although the overall parasitic infection rate has been reduced significantly, the South Korean government’s effort of controlling Clonorchiasis do not seem to have been successful since Clonorchiasis still remains prevalent along the riverside areas. In Thailand also, the Opisthorchiasis is still being actively transmitted in northern and northeastern regions and considered a significant health problem since it contributes to the high mortality rate among northerners and northeasterners. Both of countries governments have been implementing national control measures. But since the prevalence has still not been sustainably reduced and cases of reinfection are commonplace, the effectiveness of the policy and strategies implemented by these two countries is still questionable. Thus, this study has assessed the health policy and strategy, focusing on its effectiveness as well as the factors influencing its outcome, then the cases of two countries compared.