Factors associated with behaviors to prevent nicotine exposure from tobacco leaves among tobacco farmers in Si Samrong District, Sukhothai Province
Keywords:
Nicotine exposure from tobacco leaves, Preventive behaviors, Tobacco farmersAbstract
This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to study the behaviors that prevent nicotine exposure from tobacco leaves and the associated factors. The study included a sample of 361 tobacco farmers from Si Samrong District, Sukhothai Province, selected through a multi-stage random sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire developed by the researcher and analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression at a significant level at 0.05
The results showed that the majority of the participants (57.6%) had a moderate level of nicotine exposure prevention behaviors. Several factors were associated with nicotine exposure prevention among tobacco farmers: predisposing factors, including the duration of work as a tobacco farmer; time spent harvesting tobacco leaves; knowledge of Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS); perceived severity of nicotine exposure from tobacco leave; perceived benefits of preventive measures; and perceived barriers to prevention. Enabling factors included access to protective equipment for preventing nicotine exposure. Reinforcing factors included receiving information about GTS; social support from family members; and personnel at the tobacco station. The study recommends that personnel at tobacco stations should implement activities to enhance knowledge about GTS, raise awareness of the severity of nicotine exposure from tobacco leaves, emphasize the benefits of prevention, and address barriers to adopting protective measures of nicotine exposure from tobacco leaves. In addition, families should provide regular support in receiving information on GTS and ensuring access to protective equipment, thereby encouraging tobacco farmers to maintain continuous nicotine exposure prevention behaviors from tobacco leaves.
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