Food Consumption and Accessibility in Hill Tribe and Urban Women, Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT

This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations between setting and food consumption and accessibility in two districts of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. 128 women (65 in hill tribe setting and 63 in urban setting) were surveyed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Traditional and mobile markets were well utilized in both settings, in spite of the growth of multinational retailers. Consumption of ready-to-eat food and home-grown/reared or wild foods was associated with socioeconomic status. Fewer hill tribe women had eaten ready-to-eat food, although some reported fairly regular consumption. Consumption of home-grown/reared or wild foods was more evident in the hill tribe group, showing their continued utilization of traditional food resources.

KEYWORDS:

• Hill tribe
• urban
• ready-to-eat
• wild food
• market

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to offer thanks to all participants from Phan district and Therdthai subdistrict and express their gratitude towards staff at the Phan Provincial Public Health office, Mae Fah Luang Provincial Public Health office and Chiang Rai Highland People Development Center for their kind cooperation. Sincere thanks are given to: Mr Anusorn Srichan (Public Health Hospital Officer), Mr Thirapon Bun-Yuen (Head of Public Health Volunteers), Mrs Supaporn Wimonsil and Mrs Pitchanan Luang-Kam (Head of Village Health Volunteers, Phan district), and Mrs Puntharik Porncharoensatit and Mr Pornsak Unapong (Mae Sa-Lab Highland Development Zone officers) for helping to recruit participants and assisting with the coordination of data collection. The authors also thank Mr Pitak Rajittayida for being the interpreter, and Miss Warunya Srisang and Miss Phannika Kanthima who dedicated their time and patience to assisting with data collection in both study areas.

Author contributions were as follows. DS, CH, WS and MT formulated the research idea. DS designed and conducted the study under the supervision of CH. DS designed the study questionnaire with guidance from CH and WS. DS was the primary data collector. DS carried out statistical analysis with advice from MT. CH wrote the manuscript with contributions from DS. All authors read the manuscript, provided constructive comments, and approved the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) under grant number NRCT(G)PARB/47/2560. The funder did not contribute to the study design, conduct of the study, analysis of data, interpretation of findings or the preparation, review and approval of the manuscript.