Areas of research: Social epidemiology; Health Promotion, Health behavior change; Disease control program assessment
Dr. Suparat Phuanukoonnon has over 15 years of experience in conducting medical research in Papua New Guinea (13 years) and Thailand (2 years), in particular in the establishing field research for longitudinal studies, disease control program assessment, social epidemiology in infectious diseases, coordinating clinical trials with GCP compliances and monitoring and evaluation health intervention projects using integrated qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Current Research activities
1). Study of Malaria Infection at High-Risk Areas of Thailand: Community acceptability to Ivermectin Mass Drug Administration (MDA): This study aims to evaluate the community acceptability of the Ivermectin MDA program by determining the factors associate with levels of participation and compliance among volunteers with varying socio-demographic and perceptual characteristics.
Funder: CDMRP (the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (USA)
2) Health risk behaviour to malaria infection among population along the border Thai-Myanmar, Tak province:
The cohort of ICEMR study in Thasongyang (from 2011-2017) found 20% of malaria infected cases had been infected more than once. Since they lived in the same environment, it would be necessary to learn which human behavior play role in the infection cycle. Therefore, this project aims to explore and determine the risk behavior patterns to malaria infection.
Funder: NIH (USA) under the ICEMR SEA project
- Household larval control practices in Thasongyang District, Tak province
The majority of Ae. aegypti larval breeding sites in Thailand are containers storing non-potable water such as water containers, vases, ant traps and items laying in the backyard such as tires. We investigate the household larval control practices (using temephos and keeping fish), water use and weekly cleaning of containers on the presence of Aedes aegypti larvae in water-storage containers in urban households
Funder: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University