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Primary Submission Category: Health equity
Building Effective International Research Partnerships to Inform Policy: Collaborative Population Health Surveillance in Thailand
Authors: Thomas Fuller-Rowell, Samia Sultana, Susan Osayande, Ichiro Kawachi, Pailin Chuayok, Duanpen Theerawanviwat, Dararatt Anantanasuwong,
Presenting Author: Thomas Fuller-Rowell*
Background
Building effective international research partnerships is critical for producing population health evidence that is both scientifically rigorous and policy relevant. This study emerged from a collaboration among researchers at Auburn University, Harvard University, and the National Institute of Development Administration in Thailand to strengthen national surveillance of social isolation and generate evidence relevant to Thailand’s policy priorities related to population aging and social connection.
Methods
We analyzed repeated cross-sectional data from the Gallup World Poll for Thailand (2009-2024) to examine national trends in social isolation, defined as lacking relatives or friends to rely on in times of need. Early consultation with Thai collaborators helped refine the policy relevance of the research questions and analytic focus. Thai collaborators also contributed expertise on Thailand’s demographic context and policy environment and helped interpret findings in relation to national public health and aging policies.
Results
Social isolation increased during the pandemic period, but changes were highly uneven across socioeconomic groups. Isolation rose substantially among economically disadvantaged adults while remaining relatively stable among higher-income groups. Consequently, the prevalence gap between low- and high-income adults widened from about 2 percentage points before the pandemic to nearly 9 percentage points afterward—an approximately five-fold increase in the disparity. Within the low-income population, the largest increases occurred among individuals living alone and those residing in urban areas.
Discussion
These findings highlight a growing socioeconomic divide in social connection in Thailand following the pandemic. Interpreting the results collaboratively helped situate the patterns within Thailand’s policy landscape, including initiatives addressing aging, community participation, and mental health. The partnership illustrates how international collaborations can strengthen population health science by integrating cross-national data with country-specific expertise and policy insight, supporting translation of surveillance evidence into policy-relevant knowledge.