Health determinants influencing on cholinesterase level in serum of agriculturist: A case study of agriculturist in Huaphai sub-district, Kaendong district, Buriram province

Abstract

The objective of the cross-sectional survey research was to study health determinants influencing cholinesterase level in serum of agriculturists in Huaphai Subdistrict, Kaendong District, Buriram Province. We conducted a structured interview and determined cholinesterase enzyme level in blood samples of 165 voluntary agriculturists. The demographic data was summarized by descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean; the correlation between health determinants and cholinesterase level in volunteers’ serum was examined by Fisher’s Exact Test. The results indicated the majority of agriculturists were female (63.64%), age ranging from 49 to 65 years old (51.52%), normal body mass index (32.73%), no underlying disease (64.24%), graduated from primary school (76.36%), average income per month less than 6,000 baht (69.10%), rice farming (47.58%), more than 15 rai of cultivation land (47.27%), using pesticides longer than 10 years (53.94%), duration of pesticides contact 1-3 hours (56.36%), gained the supportive information of how to use pesticides for agriculturist (59.39%) and reported gaining the knowledge from agricultural officers (23.18%). The knowledge of agriculturists on how to use pesticides was high level at 51.52%; their attitude and practices concerning pesticide use were reported in moderate level at 68.48% and 46.67%, respectively. The cholinesterase level in serum were at unsafe level (84.24%), risk level (13.33%), and safety level (2.43%). The health determinants indicated body mass index and average family income per month were significantly related to cholinesterase level in agriculturists’ serum (p-value<0.05). The agriculture officers and the health officers of Khok Sawang Health Promoting Hospital should provide guidelines for reduction of chemical accumulation in the risk group by providing knowledge support of pesticides safe use, conducting the surveillance and periodically follow up, and screening for chemical accumulation in all occupations in the community.