Developing mHealth System to Improve Health Services for the Burmese Migrant Population Living in the Mae Sot Region of Thailand

Abstract

Purpose: Mae Sot, Thailand lies on the Thai-Burmese border and has a significant population of undocumented Burmese migrants. Mobile health (mHealth) applications have been increasingly used in global setting to improve health care delivery. This scholarly project aims to determine the feasibility of implementing an mHealth intervention in the Burmese migrant community in Mae Sot. Methods: Key informant interviews were held with individuals from several organizations serving the Burmese migrant worker population in Mae Sot, including the Mae Tao Clinic and Mae Sot Hospital. Interviews were also held with several Burmese migrants at the Mae Tao Clinic and in the nearby migrant community in Phop Phra, Thailand. Results: Most local Burmese migrants access health care at the Mae Tao Clinic instead of through Thai public health services such as the Mae Sot Hospital. However, both the Mae Tao Clinic and Mae Sot Hospital staff identified poor antenatal care as the key issue facing the Burmese migrant population, due in part to poor coordination, difficulty accessing care, and poor education. All interviewed Burmese migrants reported having access to a mobile phone with internet and reported high rates of smart phone usage in their communities. Conclusions: Poor antenatal care was most often identified as the principal health concern in the Burmese migrant population according to several local providers. All patients and migrant workers reported access to at least one mobile phone or tablet with easily accessible internet access. Implementation of an mHealth application in this population may offer an opportunity to improve antenatal care coordination and patient education.