บทคัดย่อ
Health status of Thai infants & preschool childrrn: a reviewThis report is a 10-year-retrospective review of health status of Thai infants and preschool children. Literature search was done through three electronic publication database: www.childdept.com, Thai Index Medicus, and Thai Dissertation. The study also included research reviews and reports of government and non-governmental agencies and academic institutes. Additional statistical analysis was performed on the data from two surveys, the National Health Examination Survey-II (1196-7) and the Study of Social and Health Problems of Construction Workers 1995-6. Results of the study showed that during the past decade the live birth rate has been stable at 16-18 per 1,000 population and the utilization of health service for child delivery has approached 92 percent. The perinatal death rate has been decreasing due to the reduction of fetal maceration and birth asphyxia. Consequently congenital anomaly has emerged as the leading cause of death in this age group. Low birth weight incidence was also decreasing. Secular increases of growth of perschool children has been observed. Acute respiratory infection was still the leading cause of illness in young children. Most of the accident in this age group occurred at home. Due to the high rate (90-95 percent) of vaccine coverage, all immunization-preventable infections have been much decreased.Thailand has been successful in reduction of deaths from diarrheal diseases. Oral rehydration solution utilization rate has increased 3 times in 10 years. Findings of the National Survey showed that 10 percent of the under-five had delayed cognitive development.
