KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES REGARDING DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG MYANMAR MIGRANT WORKERS IN BANG KHUN THIAN DISTRICT, BANGKOK, THAILAND

A cross sectional study was done in Bang Khun Thain district, Bangkok, Thailand in May and June, 2015. The main purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding diabetes mellitus among Myanmar migrant workers living in Bang Khun Thain district of Bangkok metropolitan area. The study was done on 437 subjects (286 men and 151 women). Face to face interview was carried out by using structured interviewer administered questionnaires. The ethical approval was given on 25 May, 2015 with protocol No. 089.1/58. Questionnaires regarding socio-demographic characteristics and awareness, risk factors, knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding diabetes mellitus were assessed. Chi square test, linear regression and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. Most of the respondents got good knowledge scores and moderately positive attitude scores. The results of the practice score varied: most of the male respondents got good level of practice scores whereas the female respondents got poor level of practice scores. There is an association between awareness of diabetes mellitus and duration of living in Thailand (p=0.02). Age is found to be associated with awareness of gestational diabetes (p=0.002). There is a positive association between family history of diabetes mellitus and duration of living in Thailand (p=0.043). Males have positive association with smoking status (p<0.001). Duration of living in Thailand is also associated with smoking status (p<0.001). Age is found to be associated with the presence of hypertension (p< 0.001). Age is associated with BMI and people who are 44 years of age and above tend to have more BMI than people who are under 31 years of age (p=0.046). Marital status also has association with BMI and married respondents tend to have more BMI than singles (p=0.031). Shan ethnic group has more BMI compared to Burmese (p=0.005) and the ethnic group which is labelled as other tends to have less BMI compared to Burmese (p=0.04). Respondents who don’t have work permit have negative association with knowledge, attitude and practice with p-value of <0.001, 0.017 and <0.001 respectively. Males have negative association with knowledge level (p=0.027). Respondents who have middle school level of education have more knowledge compared to those who never attended the school (p=0.038). Rakhine ethnic group has positive association with knowledge (p=0.026). Respondents who have University level of education have positive association with attitude level (p=0.032). Males have positive association with practice compared to females (p=0.001). Rakhine ethnic group has positive association with practice level (p=0.023). There are associations between knowledge and attitude, and knowledge and practice. But there are no association between attitude and practice level. The study provides baseline socio-demographic characteristics of Myanmar migrant workers in Bang Khun Thian district. Estimation of knowledge, attitudes and practices could be done among the study population. Although the respondents got good knowledge and attitude scores, the practice scores vary between genders. Effective health education for healthy practice measures and lifestyle modification based on knowledge and attitudes is needed. Further study for estimation of diabetes mellitus among the migrants should be done.