Consumption Behavior and Nutritional Status of Workers in Fabric Factory, Changhan District, Roi-Et Province
Keywords:
Factory Worker, Consumption Behavior, Nutritional Status, Factory WorkerAbstract
This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to investigate the consumption behavior and nutritional status of workers in fabric factory in Changhan District, Roi Et Province. The samples included 253 workers selected based on stratified random sampling method. Data were collected by using a questionnaire and an interview about the history of food consumption within the past 24 hours for 3 days. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, namely number, percentage, and average. INMUCAL Version 3.0 was used to analyze the quantity of energy and nutrients.
The study revealed that most workers were female, aged 20-40, and had the average BMI of 22.58 kg/m2 (S.D.=4.00) and that the nutritional status was normal (52.17%), with a small observation that the number of obese female workers was larger than the male counterpart. Had knowledge in nutrition and attitude toward food consumption at medium. Most workers had all 3 meals per day (91.30%). Most of the meals consisted of glutinous rice, Isan food, vegetables, and fruits. Workers usually made their breakfast and dinner and bought food for lunch from the shops in the factory canteen. The median energy intake was 1,297.88 kcal/day or 71.38% of the recommended daily energy intake; median protein intake 47.34 g/day or 89.14% of the recommended daily protein intake; and median carbohydrate and lipid intake 221.95 and 23.05 g/day, respectively. Compared to Thai DRI of energy and other nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin E, most workers did not receive enough energy and nutrients (<2/3 DRI)
Therefore, it is important to promote the knowledge and change the attitude and consumption behavior, and encourage workers to take care of their health in order to prevent illnesses and prepare workers to become healthy senior citizens in the future.
