Cholangiocarcinoma protective factors in Greater Mekong Subregion: Critical issues for joint planning to sustainably solve regional public health problems

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 27;17(1):e0262589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262589. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Although Opisthorchis viverrini (OV), lifestyle, and diet co-factors have a relatively high prevalence in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) population, cumulative (0-74) incidence rates of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) do not reach 5% in this region. Other co-factors must influence, but in this study, we only highlighted positive factors for guiding joint planning to address public health problems at the regional level. Therefore, we aimed to study prevalence and factors associated with CCA incidence focusing only on protective factors. A cross-sectional analytic study was carried out from June to October 2017. Participants with informed consent completed the questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze general information. Primary variables were classified into high and low levels by mean. Logistic regression was employed to investigate the correlation between interesting variables and the overall risk level of CCA. The overall prevalence of CCA protective factors of the whole region was knowledge (61.39%), health beliefs (42.32%), prevention behavior (31.93%), and community participation (14.53%). When considering the proportions at a high level, they were 49.53%, 53.72%, 35.37%, and 49.67%, respectively. Significant factors associated with CCA prevention were females with secondary or vocational education, a high level of perceived seriousness and benefits, and community participation. These findings are likely to be helpful for both the public and administrators. First, it can be information for people to be aware of CCA risk. Second, policy-driven authorities at the local or regional level should apply the critical issues from this study for joint planning to sustainably solve regional public health problems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / parasitology
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / etiology*
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / parasitology
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / prevention & control*
  • Community Participation / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Opisthorchiasis / complications
  • Opisthorchiasis / parasitology
  • Opisthorchis / pathogenicity
  • Prevalence
  • Protective Factors
  • Public Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Faculty of Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Thailand (NS was granted the research to build a research network among the educational institutions in the Greater Mekong Subregion; Grant number 2560-03-20). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.