Factors Influencing Symptoms and Illness of Pesticide Use among Rice Farmers in Nong Krot Sub-district, Banphot Phisai District Nakhon Sawan Province.

Abstract

Pesticides have both acute and chronic health impacts. The purpose of this cross-sectional analytical study was to examine factors influencing pesticide use-related symptoms and illness among rice farmers in Nong Krot Sub-district, Banphot Phisai District, Nakhon Sawan Province. The sample group consisted of 379 individuals selected using multi-stage random sampling. The research instrument used was a questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranging from 0.72 to 0.91. Binary logistic regression analysis was used for statistical analysis.

The results found that the samples had an average age of 47 years and an average experience in using chemicals of 16 years. Most of them had self-protective behavior at a high level (87.10%). Symptoms and illnesses 24 hours after using chemicals was 81.50% had neurological symptoms, 68.30% had skin symptoms, and 62.80% had digestive symptoms. Factors influencing symptoms and illness were age (year) (Exp.(B) =1.184, 95%CI for Exp.(B) 1.104-1.269, p-value <0.001), perceived risk susceptibility (points) (Exp.(B) =0.142, 95%CI for Exp.(B) 0.037-0.529, p-value = 0.001) and protective behavior after using pesticides (points) (Exp.(B) =0.274, 95%CI for Exp.(B) 0.096-0.784, p-value = 0.016) by being able to make predictions together 48.4% (Cox & Snell R²) to 80.7% (Cox & Snell R²).

We recommend that authorities should have a plan to promote self-protection behaviors after pesticide use and focus on perceived risk susceptibility. The target group should focus on the high of age.