Asian Pacifc Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol 16, 2015 7375 DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.16.7375 Age and Health Behavior Relations with Community Participation in Cholangiocarcinoma Prevention Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 16 (16), 7375-7379 Introduction The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in Northeast Thailand accounts for about 60% to 90% (Kamsa-ard et al., 2011; Khuhaprema et al., 2013), which differ from about 15% worldwide (Parkin et al., 1993). According to the last report - Cancer in Thailand, Vol. VII, 2007-2009 - the incidence (age-standardized incidence rate, ASR) of liver and bile duct cancers in Thailand is 40.3 per 100,000 in men and 16.6 per 100,000 in women. The ASRs per 100,000 in the Northeast region of Thailand are 67.1 in men and 30.9 in women. Also, the ASRs in Ubon Ratchathani in men and women are 67.4 and 29.6 per 100,000, respectively. Similar to other northeastern provinces, Ubon Ratchathani has reported CCA cases as the great majority (71% in men and 75% in women) (Khuhaprema et al., 2013). Ubon Ratchathani is one of the northeastern provinces in Thailand which has the Thai-Lao-Cambodia border 1 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Ubon Ratchathani, 2 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Thaksin University, Phatthalung, 3 Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Thailand *For correspondence: nopparat.s@ubru.ac.th Abstract A high prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection is usually found in wetland geographical areas of Thailand where people have traditional behavior of eating uncooked freshwater fsh dishes which results in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) development. There were several approaches for reducing opisthorchiasis-linked CCA, but the prevalence remains high. To develop community participation as a suitable model for CCA prevention is, frstly, to know what factors are related. We therefore aimed to investigate factors associated with the community participation in CCA prevention among rural residents in wetland areas of Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. This was a cross-sectional analytic study. All participants were 30-69 years of age, and only one member per house was invited to participate. A total of 906 participants were interviewed and asked to complete questionnaires. Independent variables were socio-demographic parameters, knowledge, health belief and behavior to prevent CCA. The dependent variable was community participation for CCA prevention. Descriptive statistics were computed as number, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Associations were assessed using logistic regression analysis with a P-value <0.05 considered statistically signifcant. Of all the participants, more than 60% had regularly participated in activities to prevent CCA following health offcials advice. Age and health behavior to prevent CCA were factors associated with community participation for CCA (p<0.001). Both factors will be taken into consideration for community participation approaches for CCA prevention through participatory action research (PAR) in future studies. Keywords: Community participation - cholangiocarcinoma - prevention - Thailand RESEARCH ARTICLE Community Participation in Cholangiocarcinoma Prevention in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand: Relations with Age and Health Behavior Nopparat Songserm 1 *, Onanong Bureelerd 1 , Sumaporn Thongprung 1 , Somkiattiyos Woradet 2 , Supannee Promthet 3 areas. Most areas are wetland surrounded with Chi River, Se Bai River, Mun River and Mekong River. Based on the data from the geographic information system, the wetland areas show high prevalence rate of Opisthorchis viverrini ( O. viverrini ) infection than other areas (Wattanayingcharoenchai et al., 2011). From the survey in all of 19 northeastern provinces of Thailand in 2009, it was reported that the prevalence of O. viverrini infection in Ubon Ratchathani was 20.2% from 16.6% overall of the Northeast, which is still high prevalent (Sithithaworn et al., 2012). Rural residents in this area have traditional behaviors of eating uncooked freshwater fsh dishes for several decades (Vatanasapt et al., 1990; Sripa et al., 2007; Grundy-Warr et al., 2012). This consumption behavior is a vehicle of O. viverrini infection resulting in progression to CCA (Songserm et al., 2012; Manwong et al., 2013). Opisthorchiasis-linked CCA is known to be a specifc public health problem for a long time in the Greater Mekong Sub-regional Countries, especially in Thailand