Dr Kamolnetr Okanurak Head of Department

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kamolnetr.oka@mahidol.ac.th
+66 (0) 2306 9100, Ext 1564

Background

Dr Kamolnetr Okanurak has been the Head of the Department of Social and Environmental Medicine since 2013. She has both research and teaching responsibilities as well as providing guidance and leadership to the diverse Department.

She works with a range of different researchers, both within Thailand and internationally. Her current study “Development of a Combination HIV Prevention Package for High Risk MSM in Bangkok” is in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Her primary research interest focuses on how people, at an individual and community level, interact with healthcare providers, interventions and with their own health.

Affiliations

Department of Social and Environmental Medicine

Research

Dr Kamolnetr Okanurak is currently involved in a collaborative study to investigate, model, develop and assess the acceptability and feasibility of novel immediate use combination HIV prevention interventions for young MSM (men who have sex with men) in Bangkok and Pattaya. Looking at the behavioural as well as clinical aspects of an intervention enables public health professionals to make better informed decisions about possible interventions.

In previous work Dr Kamolnetr Okanurak has focused on the behaviour of tuberculosis (TB) patients and factors contributing to treatment success among tuberculosis patients. She has also studied how behaviours of healthcare providers affected treatment success of TB patients.

Her early work addressed the treatment-seeking patterns and the social and economic impact of dengue haemorrhagic fever in Thailand.

Qualifications

1986 Medical Anthropology PhD University of California, San Framcisco-Berkeley, USA
1979 Medical Social Science MA Mahidol University, Thailand
1977 Public Health BSc Mahidol University, Thailand

Research Areas

  • Health seeking behavior
  • Community participation in disease prevention and control

Publications

The full list of Dr Kamolnetr Okanurak’s publications can be seen here.

Selected Publications

Health education and factors influencing acceptance of and willingness to pay for influenza vaccination among older adults.
Worasathit R, Wattana W, Okanurak K, Songthap A, Dhitavat J, Pitisuttithum P.
BMC Geriatr. 2015 Oct 26;15:136.
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-015-0137-6

Community participation of cross-border migrants for primary health care in Thailand
Sirilak S, Okanurak K*, Wattanagoon Y, Chatchaiyalerk S, Tornee S, Siri S.
Health Policy Planning 2013; 28(6):658-64.
DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czs105

Village-based diagnosis and treatment of malaria.
Okanurak K, Ruebush II TK.
Acta Tropica 1996; 61(2): 157-167.
PMID: 8740893

Factors contributing to treatment success among tuberculosis patients: a prospective cohort study in Bangkok.
Okanurak K, Kitayaporn D, Akarasewi P.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2008; 12(10): 1160-1165.
PMID: 18812046

The cost of dengue haemorrhagic fever in Thailand.
Okanurak K, Sornmani S, Indaratna K.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Pub Hlth 1997; 28(4): 711-717.
PMID: 9656390

Treatment seeking behavior of DHF patients in Thailand.
Okanurak K, Sornmani S, Mas-ngammueng R, Sitaputra P, Krachangsang S, Limsomboon J.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Pub Hlth 1997; 28(2): 351-358.
PMID: 9444020