The effects of health literacy promoting program for pesticides used among rice farmers
Keywords:
Rice Farmers, Health Literacy, PesticideAbstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a health literacy promotion program on health literacy levels, pesticide exposure prevention behaviors, and health risks of rice farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The study was a two-group, pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental design. The sample consisted of 70 people divided into two groups of 35 each. The research instrument consists of three parts as follows: 1) a questionnaire for the data collection tool, containing three sections (general information, health literacy assessment, and pesticide exposure prevention behaviors scale), 2) equipment for analysis of blood cholinesterase level, and 3) health literacy promotion program, which conducted four times, with the eight-week intervention. Data were analyzed using the computer program with descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-tests and paired samples t-tests.
The results revealed that after participating in the health literacy promotion program regarding pesticide use, the experimental group had an average increase in the knowledge of pesticide use (Mean diff. = 54.91, 95% CI = 47.93-61.89, p-value < 0.001), pesticide exposure prevention behaviors (Mean diff. = 49.34, 95% CI = 45.10-53.58, p-value < 0.001), and had higher serum cholinesterase levels (Mean diff. = 409.03, 95% CI = 217.97-600.08, p-value < 0.001), which were significantly higher than the control group. Therefore, it is essential to promote the implementation of health literacy program to increase their health literacy, regarding pesticide used leading to self-protective behaviors from pesticide exposure and reducing the health risks of pesticide exposure among rice farmers.
References
Aroonsrimorakot, S., Sangnate, V., & Pradabphetrat, P. (2017). The chemical application in rice production of farmers in Nong-Sue District, Pathum Thani Province. Prawarun Agricultural Journal,14(2), 173-180. (in Thai)
Brabers, A. E., Rademakers, J. J., Groenewegen, P. P., Van Dijk, L., & De Jong, J. D. (2017). What Role Does Health Literacy Play in Patients’ Involvement in Medical Decision-Making? PLOS One, 12(3), 248-255. e0173316. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173316.
Chaikliang, S., & Praengkratok, S. (2013). Biological assessment of risk of pesticide exposure among farmers: A case study of Kaeng Sanam Nang Sub-district, Kaeng Sanam Nang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Srinakarin Wetchasan, 28(3), 382-389. (in Thai)
Chantaramane, N. (2017). Behaviors of chemical pesticide uses and the effectiveness of an occupational health education program of safety knowledge among farmers in Upriver Area, Phayao Province. Journal of Safety and Health, 37(3), 35-45. (in Thai)
Chesser, A. K., Keene Woods, N., Smothers, K., & Rogers, N. (2016). Health literacy and older adults: A systematic review. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 2, 2333721416630492. doi: 10.1177/2333721416630492.
Cronbach, L. J. (1990). Essentials of psychoologicaltesting. (5th ed.). New York: Harper Collins.
Health Education Division, Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health. (2018). Health promotion, health literacye valuation andhealth behavior for children and adolescent 7-14 years old and aged over 15 years old. (2nd ed.). Bangkok: Ministry of Public Health. (in Thai)
Hung, D. Z., Yang, H. J., Li, Y. F., Lin, C. L., Chang, S. Y., Sung, F. C. et al. (2015). The long-term effects of organophosphates poisoning as a risk factor of CVDs: A nationwide populationbased cohort study. PLOS One,10(9), 1-15.
Jawjit, S., Kwanhian, W., Vattanasit, U., Thirarattanasunthon, P., Yimthiang, S., Mahaboon et al. (2017). A comparison of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of rice farmers and levels of pesticide residues in the environment in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Journal of Safety and Health, 37(4), 10-20. (in Thai)
Ministry of Public Health. (2020). Health Data Center (HDC). Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://hdcservice.moph.go.th/hdc/main/index_pk.php. (in Thai)
Nutbeam, D. (2015). Defining, measuring and improving health literacy. Health Evaluation and Promotion, 42(4), 450-455.
Petchchuay, C. (2017). The situation of agricultural chemical use in the lower Mekong region. Science and Technology Journal Ubon Ratchathani University, 9(1), 111-122. (in Thai)
Promnon, S., & Nathapindhu, G. (2018). The situation of pesticide usage in Dongklang Sub-district, Khonsan District, Chaiyaphum Province. Thailand Journal of Health Promotion and Environmental Health, 41(2), 116-128. (in Thai)
Rivera, E. P., Siriwong, W., Taneepanichskul, N., Norkaew, S., & Robson, M. G. (2016). Health risk related to pesticides exposure in agriculture system in Thailand: A systematic review. Journal of Health Research, 30(Suppl.1), S71-80.
Rootman, I. (2009). Health literacy, what should we do about it? Presentation the faculty of education at the university of Victoria. British. Columbia: Canada Personal Communication.
Singhatong, S. (2017). Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase levels of healthy volunteers who not exposed to pesticides in Chiang Mai Province. Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, 50(2), 168-175. (in Thai)
Srisookkum, T., & Sapbamrer, R. (2021). Development of health promotion program regarding health literacy on risk reduction of pesticide use among corn field farmers in Phayao province. Disease Control Journal, 47(3), 571–583. (in Thai)
Suwannarat, J., & Panyasaisophon, T. (2022). Research and development of health literacy model Onpesticide preventive behaviors and cholinesterase levels in blood among farmers. Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 40(1), 84-93. (in Thai)
Thetkathuek, T. (2013). Occupational health in agriculture on pesticides in occupational health and safety. (5th ed.). Bangkok: Odeon Store Publisher. (in Thai)
WHO. (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion: First International Conference on Health Promotion. Ottawa: World Health Organization.
WHO. (2009). Health literacy and health promotion. Definitions, concepts and examples in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The 7th Global Conference on HealthPromotion, “Promoting Health and Development: Closing the Implementation Gap”. Nairobi: WHO.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Public Health Naresuan University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The published article is copyrighted by the Journal of Public Health and Health Sciences Research.
The statements that appear in each article in this academic and research journal are the personal opinions of each author and are not related to Naresuan University and other faculty members in the university. Responsibilities regarding each article are the responsibility of each author.
