Model Development for Health Promotion and Control of Agricultural Occupational Health Hazards and Accidents in Pathumthani, Thailand

Abstract

In Thailand, agriculture is one of the major occupations; however, there is no comprehensive agricultural occupational health promotion and disease prevention model available. Objectives of this study were to empower farmers to study occupational health and safety situation in rice farming and to develop model to promote their health and prevent occupational health hazards among them. This participatory action research was performed in Tambol Klong 7, Klongluang district, Pathumthani, Thailand. The 24 rice farmers from 9 villages were voluntarily recruited as members of research team called farmer-leader research group. This group had a monthly meeting to discuss issues of agricultural occupational health and safety during 3 yr study period. At first stage, farmer-leader research group analyzed occupational health and safety during rice farming process. After we had results from situation analysis, farmer-leader research group decided which problems would be solved first. We developed model to solve those problems during the second stage. Finally, model was implemented to farmers in the study area. During first stage, results of questionnaires showed that there were 3 major occupational health and safety problems among these farmers; symptoms from pesticide exposure (65% of respondents), musculoskeletal problems during various process (16.6%-75.9%), and injuries during various process (1.1%-83.2%). From these results, farmer-leader research group decided to deal with pesticide problem. There was an experiment comparing using biofertilizers and bio pest-control with using chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the rice paddy. Results showed that the biological field produced the same amount of rice as the chemical field but cost less money than the chemical one. Benefits from using biofertilizers and bio pest-control were having higher profit, less exposure to chemicals, and good mental health from higher profit. After this experiment, biofertilizers and bio pest-control were disseminated to rice-farmers and students and teachers in local schools. At the end of study, we found that there were networks of farmers and networks of students-teachers using biological methods. This study showed that participation with farmers could create a real sustainable model to promote farmers' health and prevent them from occupational health hazards.

Health symptoms related to pesticide exposure and agricultural tasks among rice farmers from northern Thailand

“…The major symptom among the farmers scattering seed and harvesting crops was numbness, suggesting that the exposure from scattering seed and harvesting crops affected the neuromuscular junction. These results are in agreement with those of Buranatrevedh and Sweatsriskul [35] who reported that the majority of abnormal physical health conditions among rice farmers were associated with the oral cavity, respiratory tract and musculoskeletal system. They also reported that musculoskeletal problems during seed the soaking/scattering and harvesting processes were caused by carrying heavy seed containers and lifting heavy rice sacks.…”

Evaluation of Health Education in the Multi-professional Intervention and Training for Ongoing Volunteer-based Community Health Programme in the North-East of Thailand

“…In Taiwan, community health development (CHD) has been initiated; this is a new approach to national community health care with a shift from 'traditional' research to 'participatory action' research (Huang and Wang, 2005). The history of participatory action research in Asia is relatively short, but one recent study in Thailand showed that this approach with farmers could create a real, sustainable model to promote their health and prevent occupational health hazards (Buranatrevedh and Sweatsriskul, 2005).…”

Developing a diabetes prevention education programme for community health-care workers in Thailand: formative findings

“…This was critical because input from these individuals would be necessary to further develop and, ultimately, help sustain such a programme (Buranatrevedh and Sweatsriskul, 2005;Mosavel et al, 2005). The increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetes and obesity and the importance of effectively addressing lifestylerelated diseases were undoubtedly a concern for community stakeholders at all levels.…”