Work Ability of Thai Ageing Workers in Southern Thailand: A Comparison of Formal and Informal Sectors

Abstract

Background Thai society has been moving towards an ageing society. The independent elderly persons needed to continue decent work after retirement. This study analyses the association of work ability, individual and work-related factors with Work Ability Index (WAI) of the formal and informal sectors in a southern Thailand community. Methods This cross-sectional study with multi-stage sampling employs in 324 Thai elderly workers, aged between 45 and 70, working in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Data collection of socio-demographic status, health history, work-related factors questionnaires were done with anthropometric data and WAI instrument between March and September 2019. The descriptive and logistic regression analysis were used for the association analysis. Results Participants were predominantly general labour (23.8%), female (70.7%). Smoking and alcohol consumption was more than 70% and obesity was more than 60%. Nearly half of them were NCDs patient (48.2%). Total average WAI at 40.6 (S.D. = 4.6) and 37.5 (S.D. = 5.0) for formal and informal sectors, respectively. Nearly Fifty-two per cent (51.9%) of the participants had received sometimes occupational health services and frequently accessed to health promotion 78.1%. There was no association of work sector and WAI. The workers of age 55 years and above (OR = 1.45; 95% CI [1.21, 1.74]), the presence of NCDs (OR = 2.85; 95% CI [1.69, 4.80]), and unsafe working practice (OR = 2.11; 95% CI [1.26, 3.55]) have a higher risk of low to moderate WAI. Conclusions The age group, presence of NCDs and safety practices, associated with work ability of the Thai’s ageing workers. It suggested that promoting healthy behaviour and work environment may be an important strategy to improve ageing worker’s work ability and health. The ageing health services should cooperate with occupational health programmes in order to improve work ability and productivity of ageing workers for life-long working.

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“…This is consistent with previous studies [35][36][37]. The main reason for this is the pattern of family relationships in Thai society that dictates that normally children of working age will go to work outside the accommodation, while parents will stay at home and take care of their grandchildren [38][39][40]. This kind of pattern results in the elderly having symptoms of illness and having to wait for their children to return to meet their parents at home after that request assistance in the EMS setting.…”