Health-care of Myanmar Male Migrant Workers: A Case Study of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

          The purpose of this research is to study on health-care of Myanmar male migrant workers, and the problems and developmental guidelines for health-care of Myanmar male migrant workers. It is a mixed method; for quantitative research, questionnaires are used to collect data from 227 Myanmar male migrant workers. The data are analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation; for qualitative research, in-depth interview with 21 key informants from Myanmar male migrant workers, Thai friends, employers, and government officers are used. The data are analyzed by using descriptive analysis.

          The findings reveal that: most of Myanmar male migrant workers are in a range of age 36-45 years, below bachelor’s degree, unskilled workers, work experience in Thailand less than 10 years, an average monthly income of 5,001-10,000 Baht, marital status in single. Health-care of Myanmar male migrant workers, overall is at a moderate level (=3.39; SD=0.67); The highest level of exercise as appropriate for the age range at a high level (=3.63; SD=1.10); followed by care receiving service, and medical care at a high level (=3.61; SD=1.16); and then the level of stress relaxation by various methods at a moderate level (=3.21; SD=0.98). The health-care problems of these workers are that limited space and lack of equipment to exercise/play sports, when they got sick they bought medicine to eat themselves because they were afraid to lose money and do not want going to hospital, lack of knowledge of health-care because there is no Myanmar language to communicate, and when they were under emotional stress, they drank, made a loud noise, and quarreled each other. The developmental guidelines for solving the problems are that exercise/playing appropriate sports in open area, meeting doctor to treat according to social security rights  and consulting the health problem by multi-language media, relieving emotional stress by watching movies, listening to music, reading books, and praying to the triple gem. For drinking, it should reduce amount of alcohol consumption for appetizing only.