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What are the Health Needs, Familial and Social Problems of Thai Migrants in a Local Community in Australia? A Focus Group Study

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Abstract

This study explored the health needs, familial and social problems of Thai migrants in a local community in Brisbane, Australia. Five focus groups with Thai migrants were conducted. The qualitative data were examined using thematic content analysis that is specifically designed for focus group analysis. Four themes were identified: (1) positive experiences in Australia, (2) physical health problems, (3) mental health problems, and (4) familial and social health problems. This study revealed key health needs related to chronic disease and mental health, major barriers to health service use, such as language skills, and facilitating factors, such as the Thai Temple. We concluded that because the health needs, familial and social problems of Thai migrants were complex and culture bound, the development of health and community services for Thai migrants needs to take account of the ways in which Thai culture both negatively impacts health and offer positive solutions to problems.

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Notes

  1. For more information visit http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/index.jsp.

  2. A Thai herbal medicine: Its colour is yellow (as its literal translation), and its scientific name is Acriflavine.

  3. Ongoing domestic violence during this study was not reported.

  4. Lifeline is an Australia not-for-profit organisation providing access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services. Visit http://www.lifeline.org.au/ for more information.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge The Abbot for his continued support of this research study, the members of the Thai community who participated in the focus groups, and the generous assistance of the note-takers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of General Practice, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Level 8, Health Sciences Building, Building 16/910, Brisbane, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia

    Pasitpon Vatcharavongvan

  2. School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Julie Hepworth & Joanne Lim

  3. Centre for Primary Health Care Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Julie Hepworth

  4. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    John Marley

Authors
  1. Pasitpon Vatcharavongvan
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  2. Julie Hepworth
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  3. Joanne Lim
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  4. John Marley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pasitpon Vatcharavongvan.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 3.

Table 3 Focus group interview schedule
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Vatcharavongvan, P., Hepworth, J., Lim, J. et al. What are the Health Needs, Familial and Social Problems of Thai Migrants in a Local Community in Australia? A Focus Group Study. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 143–149 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9725-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9725-0

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