Factors associated with health status of vegetable farmers in Chorakhe Phuek Subdistrict Dan Makham Tia District Kanchanaburi

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the factors associated with health status of vegetable farmers in Chorakhe Phuek Subdistrict Dan Makham Tia District Kanchanaburi. The study was conducted on 126 vegetable farmers from Chorakhe Phueak Street, Dan Makham, Tia District, Kanchanaburi Province. The research methodology involved the use of a questionnaire. According to the results of the study, the majority of farmers were males, 54.8%. Among them were aged between 41 to 50 years, 30.2%. Graduate from primary school, 50%. Never smoked, 71.4%. Did not drink any alcohol or beverages containing alcohol,93%. Did not have any congenital disease, 83.3%. Farmers also grow field crops, 43.6% and most have never been trained in the use of pesticides, 58.7% and use pesticides the most, 31.8%. Most have 1- 10 years of experience, 34.9%. The highest frequency of chemical spraying is 1-5 times per month, 76.2%. The spraying time is less than 1 hour, 67.5% and there is a maximum of 3 or more types of chemicals mixed in each spray, 94.4%. The equipment used for spraying chemicals is shoulder-type. Safety behavior before spraying, while spraying, and after spraying pesticides is mostly at a very good level. The health condition of farmers was found to have abnormal symptoms after using pesticides. The most common symptoms were skin rashes, red rashes, cracked skin, blisters, and dry skin, at 14.3%. The results of the study found that congenital disease, duration of chemical use, and safety behavior before injection and after spraying pesticides factors have a statistically significant correlation with the health status of farmers (P < 0.05).