J Relig Health. 2012 Sep; 51(3): 925–933.
Published online 2010 Oct 14. doi: 10.1007/s10943-010-9410-3
PMCID: PMC3444697
Health, Well-being, and Social Indicators Among Monks, Prisoners, and Other Adult Members of an Open University Cohort in Thailand
Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, 1 Sam-ang Seubsman,2 Adrian C. Sleigh,1 and The Thai Cohort Study Team
Author information ► Copyright and License information ►
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.
Abstract
This study has brought together two seemingly socially extreme population subgroups to compare their health and social well-being. These groups had in common restricted living arrangements and aspirational enrollment. As well, they are part of the population-based Thai Cohort Study (TCS) of 87,134 adult Open University students residing throughout the country. Analysis was restricted to men aged 20–39 years resulting in 711 monks, 195 prisoners and 29,713 other cohort members. For physical health, we have found certain conditions such as tuberculosis or malaria much more common among prisoners, while goiter and liver diseases were more common among monks. This could be due to prison living arrangements for the former and region of residence for the latter. For other social outcomes, lower trust, higher economic stress and lower personal well-being was noted for prisoners compared to other groups. Findings here with regard to spirituality and religion are encouraging with almost no difference reported between prisoners and other cohort members implying that trust-building and other social intervention for prisoners could be activated through prevalent religious beliefs and practices and with continuing support from Thai prison authorities.
Keywords: Spirituality, Religion, Health, Well-being, Monks, Prisoners, Thailand
Diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, daily life activities, food and beverage consumption among Buddhist monks in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand
Abstract
Diabetes (DM), and its associated complications, presents a major health problem for the Thai people, including Buddhist monks. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of DM and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and factors associated with DM, among a cohort of Buddhist monks in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. A total of 415 Buddhist monks aged 35 years and over were randomly sampled and interviewed. A fasting capillary whole blood specimen was collected for glucose measurement. The prevalence of DM was 10.8 %, with 2.8 % treated DM, and 8.0 % screened DM. The prevalence of IFG was 11.8 %, 51.8 % of Buddhist monks reported maintaining the temple and its surroundings, and 50.1 % doing physical exercise for least 30 min and 4 days/week in the past 7 days. The 3 types of food that the Buddhist monks ate most frequently (at least 4 days/week) were chili paste (66.5 %), curry with coconut milk, such as chicken curry (60.7 %), and deep-fried foods, such as fish, chicken, and pork (53.3 %). About 44.3 % ate Thai sweets and desserts and 24.5 % drank aerated drinks at least 4 days/week. The prevalence of DM and IFG among the Buddhist monks was quite high. DM screening needs to be conducted regularly for early detection and treatment. Continued effective lifestyle modification interventions, including increased physical activity and correct diet, are recommended.
Keywords : Prevalence Lifestyle Social Buddhist monks
J Relig Health. 2012 Sep; 51(3): 925–933.
Published online 2010 Oct 14. doi: 10.1007/s10943-010-9410-3
PMCID: PMC3444697
Health, Well-being, and Social Indicators Among Monks, Prisoners, and Other Adult Members of an Open University Cohort in Thailand
Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, 1 Sam-ang Seubsman,2 Adrian C. Sleigh,1 and The Thai Cohort Study Team
Author information ► Copyright and License information ►
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.
Abstract
This study has brought together two seemingly socially extreme population subgroups to compare their health and social well-being. These groups had in common restricted living arrangements and aspirational enrollment. As well, they are part of the population-based Thai Cohort Study (TCS) of 87,134 adult Open University students residing throughout the country. Analysis was restricted to men aged 20–39 years resulting in 711 monks, 195 prisoners and 29,713 other cohort members. For physical health, we have found certain conditions such as tuberculosis or malaria much more common among prisoners, while goiter and liver diseases were more common among monks. This could be due to prison living arrangements for the former and region of residence for the latter. For other social outcomes, lower trust, higher economic stress and lower personal well-being was noted for prisoners compared to other groups. Findings here with regard to spirituality and religion are encouraging with almost no difference reported between prisoners and other cohort members implying that trust-building and other social intervention for prisoners could be activated through prevalent religious beliefs and practices and with continuing support from Thai prison authorities.
Keywords: Spirituality, Religion, Health, Well-being, Monks, Prisoners, Thailand
Diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, daily life activities, food and beverage consumption among Buddhist monks in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand
Abstract
Diabetes (DM), and its associated complications, presents a major health problem for the Thai people, including Buddhist monks. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of DM and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and factors associated with DM, among a cohort of Buddhist monks in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. A total of 415 Buddhist monks aged 35 years and over were randomly sampled and interviewed. A fasting capillary whole blood specimen was collected for glucose measurement. The prevalence of DM was 10.8 %, with 2.8 % treated DM, and 8.0 % screened DM. The prevalence of IFG was 11.8 %, 51.8 % of Buddhist monks reported maintaining the temple and its surroundings, and 50.1 % doing physical exercise for least 30 min and 4 days/week in the past 7 days. The 3 types of food that the Buddhist monks ate most frequently (at least 4 days/week) were chili paste (66.5 %), curry with coconut milk, such as chicken curry (60.7 %), and deep-fried foods, such as fish, chicken, and pork (53.3 %). About 44.3 % ate Thai sweets and desserts and 24.5 % drank aerated drinks at least 4 days/week. The prevalence of DM and IFG among the Buddhist monks was quite high. DM screening needs to be conducted regularly for early detection and treatment. Continued effective lifestyle modification interventions, including increased physical activity and correct diet, are recommended.
Keywords : Prevalence Lifestyle Social Buddhist monks
J Relig Health. 2012 Sep; 51(3): 925–933.
Published online 2010 Oct 14. doi: 10.1007/s10943-010-9410-3
PMCID: PMC3444697
Health, Well-being, and Social Indicators Among Monks, Prisoners, and Other Adult Members of an Open University Cohort in Thailand
Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, 1 Sam-ang Seubsman,2 Adrian C. Sleigh,1 and The Thai Cohort Study Team
Author information ► Copyright and License information ►
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.
Abstract
This study has brought together two seemingly socially extreme population subgroups to compare their health and social well-being. These groups had in common restricted living arrangements and aspirational enrollment. As well, they are part of the population-based Thai Cohort Study (TCS) of 87,134 adult Open University students residing throughout the country. Analysis was restricted to men aged 20–39 years resulting in 711 monks, 195 prisoners and 29,713 other cohort members. For physical health, we have found certain conditions such as tuberculosis or malaria much more common among prisoners, while goiter and liver diseases were more common among monks. This could be due to prison living arrangements for the former and region of residence for the latter. For other social outcomes, lower trust, higher economic stress and lower personal well-being was noted for prisoners compared to other groups. Findings here with regard to spirituality and religion are encouraging with almost no difference reported between prisoners and other cohort m