Associations of selected factors with percieved health status of garbage collectors during the COVID 19 epidemic: A case study of Nakhon Pathom province

Abstract

During the COVID-19 epidemic in 2019–2022, garbage collectors are susceptible to certain occupational health issues. This study was an exploratory study. The objective of this study was to (1) study personal factors, work, knowledge and self-protective behavior from infected waste and (2) study selected factors that associated with health status. The study included a sample group of garbage collectors in Mueang District. Nakhon Pathom Province, 200 people. Data were collected using questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, finding percentages, means, and standard deviations. and maximum-minimum value and the Pearson correlation coefficient statistical test. The results of the study found that all garbage collectors were male (100.0%). They are in the age range of 40-49 years (33.5%) wear personal safety equipment when working (97.0 %), The majority of people wore masks (87.5%) and had received knowledge about garbage collection (58.5%) The majority of them behave in a way that shields them from contaminated garbage at a moderate risk (59.0%) and during the COVID-19 epidemic (96.0 %) had extensive knowledge of managing infectious waste. The result of the health status level is a low level of risk (81.5%) and we selected factors that show a statistical significance level of 0.05 in relation to the health status of garbage collectors status (p = 0.038) and self-protective behavior from infected waste (p = 0.027) The research results can help with monitoring, preventing, and controlling the infection spread from waste. This includes infectious waste, garbage collection, and transportation, awareness about monitoring health conditions and continuous development of occupational health and safety management models for garbage collectors.