Lower utilization of health care services for ethnic minorities compared to
that of the majority population reflects social inequality in society (Aday, 2000). In
addition, differential health care utilizations among different ethnic groups also reflect
unequal human rights, which have been a political concern of most governments;
Thailand is no exception since a fairly large number of minority populations including
displaced persons, refugees from threats of war and undocumented migrant workers live
along the border areas (Registration Administration Bureau, 1999). These people have
the basic right to access to health care resources, yet their situations are worse off. For
example, in 1997 diarrhea, respiratory infection, tuberculosis, and HIV were among the
major concerns in the highlands where most ethnic minorities live (Asian Development
Bank, 2001). Another study reports that infant, child and maternal mortality rates are
much higher in the highland regions than in other parts of Thailand (Institute for
Population and Social Research & Thai Health Promotion Foundation, 2005).