Ann Occup Environ Med.  2014 ;26(1):8-8. 10.1186/2052-4374-26-8.

Estimated rate of agricultural injury: the Korean Farmers' Occupational Disease and Injury Survey

• Chae H
• Min K
• Youn K
• Park J
• Kim K
• Kim H
• Lee K

• KMID: 2153893
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/2052-4374-26-8

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study estimated the rate of agricultural injury using a nationwide survey and identified factors associated with these injuries.
METHODS
The first Korean Farmers' Occupational Disease and Injury Survey (KFODIS) was conducted by the Rural Development Administration in 2009. Data from 9,630 adults were collected through a household survey about agricultural injuries suffered in 2008. We estimated the injury rates among those whose injury required an absence of more than 4 days. Logistic regression was performed to identify the relationship between the prevalence of agricultural injuries and the general characteristics of the study population.
RESULTS
We estimated that 3.2% (+/-0.00) of Korean farmers suffered agricultural injuries that required an absence of more than 4 days. The injury rates among orchard farmers (5.4 +/- 0.00) were higher those of all non-orchard farmers. The odds ratio (OR) for agricultural injuries was significantly lower in females (OR: 0.45, 95% CI = 0.45-0.45) compared to males. However, the odds of injury among farmers aged 50-59 (OR: 1.53, 95% CI = 1.46-1.60), 60-69 (OR: 1.45, 95% CI = 1.39-1.51), and > or =70 (OR: 1.94, 95% CI = 1.86-2.02) were significantly higher compared to those younger than 50. In addition, the total number of years farmed, average number of months per year of farming, and average hours per day of farming were significantly associated with agricultural injuries.
CONCLUSIONS
Agricultural injury rates in this study were higher than rates reported by the existing compensation insurance data. Males and older farmers were at a greater risk of agriculture injuries; therefore, the prevention and management of agricultural injuries in this population is required.

Keyword

Agriculture; Farmer; Occupational injury; Disease; Accident; Statistics; Injury rate

MeSH Terms

Adult
Agriculture
Compensation and Redress
Family Characteristics
Female
Humans
Insurance
Logistic Models
Male
Occupational Diseases*
Occupational Injuries
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Social Planning