NCD-Related Health Inequities in Thailand and Indonesia – Building Local/Regional/Country Level Solutions Through Research

University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This D43 renewal application will address the growing incidence of NCDs in Thailand and Indonesia, the subnational variations in health outcomes across regions, and population groups associated with the rapid rise in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the last several decades. A landmark World Health Organization (WHO) Report showed the scope of health issues in case studies of Indonesia and Thailand, among other Southeast Asia Region (SEAR) countries. Poor, less healthy, and less educated women, children, and older adults living in rural areas and urban high-poverty areas suffer the most significant disease burden in their respective countries. Understanding these variations is essential to developing ameliorative solutions. The primary goal of this RENEWAL application, the third competing continuation of this D43, is to focus on expanding NCD research in Thailand and Indonesia through postdoctoral training and other capacity-building activities addressing NCDs. We will capitalize on the NCD research hubs, networking, and research capacity building developed in prior iterations and Thailand’s exemplary work in the United Nations-sponsored Thematic Working Group on Noncommunicable Diseases (TWGRP) to further support Thailand’s in-country NCD research training capacity and related policy development through research applications to achieve SDG goals 2030. We will take a broad view of research, from country-level approaches to understanding the role of poverty, literacy, and healthcare access to the population-focused interventions that address specific health needs/issues. We will prepare 10 scientists through a two-year postdoctoral training program to lead in expanding research addressing NCDs in Thailand and Indonesia – with a greater focus on in-country training in Thailand and increasing the number of trainees for Indonesia. We will leverage Thailand’s TWGRP gains in NCDs to advance health through collaborations with public health, health systems, and policy officials in Thailand and Indonesia.