Modelling the impact of improving access to healthcare on hepatitis B prevalence in the Thai–Myanmar border region

Abstract

Abstract In Thailand, hepatitis B remains endemic despite a strong elimination programme. Four neighbouring countries, with higher hepatitis B prevalence, contribute to over 90% of the migrant workforce in Thailand, and 75% migrant workers are from Myanmar. Access to healthcare for migrants is limited. Models can capture heterogeneity within populations, a useful tool to understand and quantify the impact of policies which could improve targeting of limited resources. In this study, we developed an agent-based model to capture the differences between the Thai and Myanmar migrant populations living in Thailand near the border with Myanmar, notably the higher level of mobilit..