Ban Pak Community
The Ban Pak community is located in the northeastern region of Thailand,
which makes up one-third of the land mass of Thailand, and
is known collectively as Isaan. This term describes the local people,
culture, and language, which are influenced by the Lao and Khmer traditions.
In addition to having unique cultural influences, Isaan, which
is largely rural, is also the poorest region of Thailand. This region,
where 34 percent of the country’s total population lives, also bears
twice the average national burden of poverty as a consequence of its
harsh climate, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and soil degradation
(Lyttleton, 1994:139). Though it is the northern region of Thailand,
not the northeastern region, which has been hit hardest by the HIV/
AIDS epidemic, prevention and care in northeastern Thailand is com