Policy and the politics of COVID-19 communication responses: a comparative case study of two border provinces in Thailand

Abstract This article aims to explore the policy interpretations of Thailand’s risk communication policy formulation and implementation process, and its potential challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing the situations in two Thai border provinces: Tak (Thailand-Myanmar) and Nong Khai (Thailand-Lao PDR). This research adopted a comparative case study design, analyzing policy documents and interviewing key policy stakeholders. It combined an interpretive policy framework with a ‘multiple streams/critical juncture’ to understand the perceptions and experiences of policy stakeholders and the interpretation of policy texts during a public health crisis. The findings demonstrate that these two similar cases have had different local health communication policy implementations. Indeed, the results showed the different policy operations and communication challenges in both areas, which included outdated bureaucratic routines and complex government communication mechanisms resulting in health communication response delays, cultural and language barriers, and problems with access to services caused by digital health disruptions. The health communication outcomes in the two provinces also reflected the impact of both Thai border health politics and the international politics between Thailand and its neighboring countries on health communication operations and the interpretations of all policy agents.