The effects of others' drinking on the harms to children in Thailand: Lessons from the WHO-ThaiHealth project.

BACKGROUND: Many knowledge gaps exist in the area of alcohol-related harms in children research such as the potential impact of other's drinking and their social demography. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effects of characteristics of household members and others' alcohol drinking on harms to children in Thailand. DATA AND METHODS: This study examined 952 parents caring for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, using the questionnaire (i.e., The Harm to Others from Drinking under the WHO/ThaiHealth International Collaboration Research Project). They were interviewed between September 2012 and March 2013. RESULTS: The study found that 15.89% of children and young people were affected by someone's drinking in at least one category of harms. People over 60 years of age were less likely to cause alcohol-related harm to children than those aged 18 to 29 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.19, 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 0.06-0.58). Households with a binge drinker or regular drinker (≥1 time/week) were more likely to have children at higher risk of suffering alcohol-related harm in comparison to households without alcohol drinker (AOR 4.75 and 1.92, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study found that children whose family members are young adult or consume alcohol (i.e., weekly drinker or binge drinker) were significantly adversely affected. The most common problems were domestic violence and verbal abuse. Most of the problems, affecting children, were caused mostly by their parents.

Usage of herbal medicines among the elderly in a primary care unit in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand.

Background: The prevalence of chronic diseases in the elderly is high, and some use herbal medicines instead of, or together with, conventional medicine. Herbal medicine usage may cause adverse events. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of herbal medicine usage among the elderly attending a primary care unit (PCU) of Songklanagarind Hospital, a tertiary teaching hospital in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Thailand, and associated factors, reasons for use, principles considered before use, perceived effects, and history of consultation with medical professionals concerning their herbal medicine usage. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of elderly patients who visited the PCU. Questionnaires were used to obtain data. Results: We included 204 patients who met the eligibility criteria. About two-thirds were women, with a median age of 69.0 years. Most had underlying diseases and were educated. The all time prevalence of herbal medicine usage was 60.8%. Being educated was significantly associated with herbal medicine usage. Among 124 users, 79% did not consider any principles for safe use of herbal medicine, 63% had no knowledge of possible interactions with conventional medicines, and 73% had never been asked about their use of herbal medicines by their health care professionals. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of herbal medicine usage among the elderly Thai patients attending the PCU, especially by the educated. The majority did not consider the principles for safe use of herbal medicine. Health care providers should be more aware of herbal medicine usage and should increase their role in initiating a discussion about herbal medicine usage with elderly patients.