Peer-reviewed article
Factors Associated with Immunization Status Among Myanmar Migrant Children in Northern Thailand: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
Shin Moe Oo, Pamornsri Inchon, Peeradone Srichan, Kriengkrai Prasert ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined immunization coverage among children of Myanmar migrants living in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand. Among 423 children under 7 years old, 21.5% had incomplete immunization. Six factors were strongly associated with incomplete immunization: lack of Thai birth registration, lack of health insurance, history of return migration, negative peer practices, time barriers, and financial barriers. The research suggests that interventions should address legal access, health insurance, community outreach, and cross-border continuity of care.
Key points
- 21.5% of Myanmar migrant children in the study had incomplete immunization
- Lack of health insurance was the strongest associated factor (aOR = 14.03)
- History of return migration increased odds of incomplete immunization (aOR = 19.05)
- Lack of Thai birth registration was a significant barrier (aOR = 9.52)
- Both time and financial barriers were significantly associated with incomplete immunization
Limitations
This cross-sectional study cannot establish causation, only associations between factors and immunization status. The study was limited to Chiang Rai Province and may not be generalizable to other migration corridors or regions.
Abstract
Background: Children of Myanmar migrants in Thailand have lower immunization coverage compared to Thai counterparts, leaving them at risk of vaccine preventable diseases. Evidence remains limited regarding immunization among Myanmar children in Chiang Rai Province, an important migration corridor between Northern Thailand and Myanmar. Objective: this study aimed to estimate the immunization status and identify its associated factors among children of Myanmar migrants in Chiang Rai province, Northern Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Myanmar migrant caregivers and their children aged under 7 years, who are residing in Chiang Rai Province, using a validated questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize participant characteristics, while chi-square tests and binary logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors with statistical significance set at α< 0.05. Results: Among 423 children, 91 children (21.5%) were found as having incomplete immunization and six factors were significantly associated with it, including lacking Thai birth registration (aOR = 9.52; 95% CI: 3.74-24.27), lacking child's health insurance (aOR = 14.03; 95% CI: 6.45-30.54), history of return migration (aOR = 19.05; 95% CI: 8.48-44.13), negative peer practices (aOR = 8.09, 95% CI: 1.47-44.54), time barrier (aOR = 4.09, 95% CI: 1.20-13.94) and financial barrier (aOR = 7.07, 95% CI: 1.67-29.91). Conclusions: A moderate prevalence of incomplete immunization was strongly associated with factors across the levels of the modified socio-ecological model: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional. Interventions addressing legal access, health insurance, community outreach, healthcare system responsiveness and cross-border continuity of care are recommended.