Prevalence of Disease and Non-battle Injury, Anxiety and Depression in the Royal Thai Armed Forces during the Operation of the United Nations in Burundi
Surakarn Saraithong MD*, Pote Aimpun MD, PhD**, Ram Rangsin MD, DrPH**, Wirote Areekul MD**, Mathirut Mungthin MD, PhD***, Suthee Panichkul MD, MSc***
Affiliation : * Department of Surgery, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand *** Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the prevalence and impact of common disease and non-battle injuries (DNBI) among
the military personnel deployed to the operations of the United Nations (UN) in Burundi from June to Decem-
ber 2005.
Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 175 Thai military personnel. A pre- and post
deployment questionnaire assessing demographic data, general health, dental problems, underlying disease
and health risk behaviors was performed. The information of DNBI was collected weekly. Data on initial visits
for 27 DNBI categories were complied at the unit and event data on morbidity measures for each DNBI
category were aggregated for all reporting units on a weekly basis. Anxiety and depression were assessed
using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale.
Results : The majority of the troops was in good health at pre- and post deployment.
The total weekly
initial visit DNBI rate was 337.6 visits per 1,000 persons, which was rather high compared to the Joint Chiefs
of Staff (JCS) reference rate. The most common DNBI categories were respiratory illnesses (21.9%), medical/
surgical injuries (19.8%) and recreational injuries (15.5%).
Conclusion : The present data indicated that despite modern preventive medicine measures, illnesses and non-
battle injuries were still common, which had a significant impact on military readiness and operational
efficiency.
Keywords : Anxiety, Burundi, Depression, Military Personnel, War, Wounds and Injuries
