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Impacts of and survival adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic among the hill tribe population of northern Thailand: A qualitative study

Author

Listed:
  • Soontaree Suratana
  • Ratipark Tamornpark
  • Tawatchai Apidechkul
  • Peeradone Srichan
  • Thanatchaporn Mulikaburt
  • Pilasinee Wongnuch
  • Siwarak Kitchanapaibul
  • Fartima Yeemard
  • Anusorn Udplong

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has exerted a variety of impacts on people, particularly people with limited education living in poor economic settings. This study investigates the impacts of and adaptations to COVID-19 among the hill tribe people of northern Thailand. Methods: A qualitative method was used to elicit information from key informants who lived in a hill tribe village in Mae Fah Laung district, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Fourteen questions on two issues were used to gather information, and an NVivo program was used to extract the findings. Results: A total of 57 hill tribe villagers participated, including 36 females and 21 males (mean age of 50.1 years, min = 20 and max = 90). Twenty-seven individuals were Thai Yai, 14 were Yunan Chinese, eight were Akha, and eight were members of other minor tribes. Regarding education and occupation, 30 individuals were illiterate, while 27 had attended different levels of primary school; 40 individuals were unemployed, 13 were employed as daily wage workers and farmers, and the other 4 were attending school. Three age categories were used to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: impact of access to the educational system among the young, loss of jobs and family financial problems among the working, and access to medical care for the elderly. Six adaptation stages in response to the COVID-19 crisis were observed among the hill tribe people: shock stage with no prior experience, looking for help from health and other agencies, considering the national lockdown policy, complying with prevention and control measures, reducing stressful situations and following the new normal approach, and addressing suffering points at home and elsewhere. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted different impacts on different age categories among the hill tribe population living in remote and border areas. Effective adaptations have been implemented to address the new normal life under the disease, and six adaptation stages have been identified that have helped them survive the greatest threat to humankind today.

Suggested Citation

  • Soontaree Suratana & Ratipark Tamornpark & Tawatchai Apidechkul & Peeradone Srichan & Thanatchaporn Mulikaburt & Pilasinee Wongnuch & Siwarak Kitchanapaibul & Fartima Yeemard & Anusorn Udplong, 2021. "Impacts of and survival adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic among the hill tribe population of northern Thailand: A qualitative study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0252326
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252326
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    1. Behnam Honarvar & Kamran B. Lankarani & Ali Kharmandar & Fatemeh Shaygani & Mohammadhassan Zahedroozgar & Mohammad Reza Rahmanian Haghighi & Sulmaz Ghahramani & Hossein Honarvar & Mohammad Mehdi Darya, 2020. "Knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, and practices of adults toward COVID-19: a population and field-based study from Iran," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(6), pages 731-739, July.
    2. Mahmud, Mahreen & Riley, Emma, 2021. "Household response to an extreme shock: Evidence on the immediate impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on economic outcomes and well-being in rural Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
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    1. Louis Lebel & Hap Navy & Phoummixay Siharath & Chau Thi Minh Long & Nilar Aung & Phimphakan Lebel & Chu Thai Hoanh & Boripat Lebel, 2023. "COVID-19 and household water insecurities in vulnerable communities in the Mekong Region," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 3503-3522, April.

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