Migration and disease problems: a study of pattern of migration in an endemic area of malaria in Thailand.

The preliminary results of a study of rural-rural migration in an endemic area of malaria is reported. The study on socio-economic status of migrant workers was made during the post planting season of sugarcane plantation in Tambon Nong Rhee Kanchanaburi Province. Among 9,311 population in four villages of this Tambon, 15.4% were migrants and 45.5% were from the northeast provinces of Thailand. Almost half of the migrant population came to the area for the first time and stayed for six months mostly during the sugarcane cutting season. No significant difference in experience with malaria (as recognized by the people not from blood examination) between the local population and the migrants was observed from the interview. However, the duration of migration seemed to relate with the risk of contracting malaria.