{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T07:08:46Z","timestamp":1779260926376,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":8,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]],"date-time":"2026-04-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775865600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779235200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":39,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"US Department of Defense's Defense Medical Assistance Program (DMAP)-Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Malar J"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In the Greater Mekong Subregion, militaries constitute a critical but often underserved malaria transmission reservoir, given their high mobility, deployment to endemic areas, and frequent exposure to vectors. In Thailand, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) is a key risk population, yet their malaria practices, perceptions, and the scale and scope of coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) are not well understood. A joint military-civilian research team conducted a rapid formative assessment in Sisaket Province, a persistent transmission hotspot, to characterize the unique RTA risk profile and identify opportunities to strengthen RTA-MoPH coordination on malaria elimination efforts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Using a mixed-methods design, the research team conducted a five-year (2016\u20132020) retrospective analysis of Sisaket\u2019s malaria case and program response data, alongside 16 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 17 key informant interviews (KIIs) with RTA and MoPH respondents across all military ranks and health system levels in the province\u2019s three highest-burden districts (Kantharalak, Khun Han, Phu Sing). Qualitative data were collected between December 2021-January 2022 and thematically analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Quantitative data were descriptively analyzed using statistical methods to characterize the RTA malaria risk profile and identify and compare recent trends in program response between military and non-military populations in Sisaket Province.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>432 military malaria cases were reported in Sisaket between 2016 and 2020, accounting for 18% of the province\u2019s total 2425 cases (with the proportion ranging from 14 to 30% annually). All military malaria cases were male, with a median age of 28\u00a0years. 96% of military cases were diagnosed and treated at MoPH facilities, with 41% of cases classified as indigenous and 40% as imported from abroad. Qualitative data were collected from a total of 116 respondents (72 RTA, 44 MoPH) through 16 FGDs and 17 KIIs. Malaria prevention and treatment practices and perceptions among soldiers were largely consistent across the three study districts. RTA-MoPH coordination occurred at all levels through both formal and informal channels and was reported to be improving and expanding by some respondents. Though several areas could benefit from increased collaboration: patient follow-up, border control efforts, vector control, and further capacitation of military medics. The RTA and MoPH both expressed strong interest in strengthening military-civilian coordination; though to better enable this, several identified challenges may need to be addressed, including restricted MoPH access to military sites, lack of continuity in relationships due to frequent RTA rotations, communication constraints, and broader differences in military versus civilian operating procedures.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Strengthening RTA-MoPH coordination towards successfully interrupting malaria transmission in Thailand may require formalizing and standardizing some joint operating procedures, increasing communication and military-civilian touchpoints, and further capacitating the RTA to carry out malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and patient follow-up activities. For Thailand to achieve its goal of nationwide malaria elimination, it is crucial that the RTA as a high-risk population be fully engaged in the country\u2019s malaria control and response efforts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-026-05884-2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]],"date-time":"2026-04-11T15:26:16Z","timestamp":1775921176000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Combatting malaria together: key findings from a rapid formative assessment on Royal Thai Army malaria practices and military-civilian collaboration in Sisaket Province, Thailand"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Emily","family":"Dantzer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sutchana","family":"Tabprasit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kanokwan","family":"Suwannarong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Krisada","family":"Jongsakul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Khunakorn","family":"Kana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pratin","family":"Dharmarak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mitra","family":"Feldman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Prayuth","family":"Sudathip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jintana","family":"Chaiwan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Watcharee","family":"Yokani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Min","family":"Kramyoo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kannika","family":"Thammasutti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chris","family":"Cotter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"5884_CR1","unstructured":"MOPH Thailand. Thailand Malaria Information System (MIS): Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, 2024 [Available from: https:\/\/malaria.ddc.moph.go.th\/ malariar10\/home.php]."},{"key":"5884_CR2","unstructured":"World malaria report 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO."},{"key":"5884_CR3","unstructured":"MOPH Thailand. Thailand National Malaria Elimination Strategy 2017\u20132026: Malaria Elimination Operational Plan 2017\u20132021. Bangkok, 2016. Bangkok: Bureau of Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 2016."},{"issue":"12","key":"5884_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pt.2014.10.002","volume":"30","author":"JE Manning","year":"2014","unstructured":"Manning JE, Satharath P, Gaywee J, Lopez MN, Lon C, Saunders DL. Fighting the good fight: the role of militaries in malaria elimination in Southeast Asia. Trends Parasitol. 2014;30(12):571\u201381.","journal-title":"Trends Parasitol"},{"key":"5884_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-021-03995-6","volume":"20","author":"ME Roh","year":"2021","unstructured":"Roh ME, Lausatianragit K, Chaitaveep N, Jongsakul K, Sudathip P, Raseebut C, et al. Civilian-military malaria outbreak response in Thailand: an example of multi-stakeholder engagement for malaria elimination. Malar J. 2021;20:1\u201313.","journal-title":"Malar J"},{"issue":"02","key":"5884_CR6","first-page":"1","volume":"6","author":"S Kounnavong","year":"2017","unstructured":"Kounnavong S, Gopinath D, Hongvanthong B, Khamkong C, Sichanthongthip O. Malaria elimination in Lao PDR: the challenges associated with population mobility. Infect Dis Poverty. 2017;6(02):1\u20139.","journal-title":"Infect Dis Poverty"},{"issue":"1","key":"5884_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-022-04229-z","volume":"21","author":"P Sudathip","year":"2022","unstructured":"Sudathip P, Naowarat S, Kitchakarn S, Gopinath D, Bisanzio D, Pinyajeerapat N, et al. Assessing Thailand\u2019s 1-3-7 surveillance strategy in accelerating malaria elimination. Malar J. 2022;21(1):222.","journal-title":"Malar J"},{"key":"5884_CR8","unstructured":"Army RT. Royal Thai Army Medical Department Strategic Plan for 2023\u20132027: Royal Thai Army Medical Department, 2023 [Available from: https:\/\/www.amedstgy.com\/main\/strategicmap]."}],"container-title":["Malaria Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12936-026-05884-2","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12936-026-05884-2.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12936-026-05884-2.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T06:16:33Z","timestamp":1779257793000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s12936-026-05884-2"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]]},"references-count":8,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["5884"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-026-05884-2","relation":{},"ISSN":["1475-2875"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1475-2875","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,11]]},"assertion":[{"value":"16 December 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"18 March 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"11 April 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The research protocol (dated 21 July 2021) was reviewed and approved by the Committee on Human Research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF 20-32642), and the Royal Thai Army Medical Department Institutional Review Board (RTA FR 01 2563). The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight (OHARO), and\u00a0Office of Human Research Oversight (OHRO) approved the no greater than minimal risk study on 02 December 2021 (WRAIR #2904, OHRO Log Number E02893.1c.).","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"224"}}