J Agric Med Community Health.  2023 Dec;48(4):239-250. 10.5393/JAMCH.2023.48.4.239.

Demand for Priorities for Preventing Occupational Diseases among Farmers

• Seo AR
• Kim JY
• Kim B
• Lee GY
• Kim K
• Park KS

• KMID: 2551405
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2023.48.4.239

Abstract

Objective
This study was a preliminary study for the prevention programs for farmers' occupational diseases. It selected the priorities recognized by farmers, such as occupational diseases, and also identifies the effectiveness and feasibility of prevention programs among diseases recognized by farmers. Therefore, we plan to use it as basis data for future farmer safety and health programs. Method: The subjects of the study were farmers living in the region, selected through a snowball recruitment method, and a total of 671 people were targeted. The priority selection method was the Basic Priority Rating System (BPRS) method, and among the occupational diseases, programs to prevent musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and pesticide poisoning were surveyed on the effectiveness and feasibility of farmers.
Results
Among occupational diseases, the highest priority was musculo-skeletal disease, followed by respiratory disease and pesticide poisoning. Among the programs for musculoskeletal disease, 'use of agricultural work convenience equipment and auxiliary tools' had the highest perceived effectiveness and feasibility. Among the five programs for pesticide poisoning, ‘equipment of protective equipment such as pesticide protective clothing/glove’ had the highest effectiveness at 67.4%, and ‘compliance with pesticide use instructions’ had the highest level of feasibility at 64.3%. Among the four programs to prevent respiratory diseases, ‘wearing a dust mask or gas mask’ was the highest at 65.5% in terms of both effectiveness and feasibility.
Conclusion
When carrying out safety and health programs for farmers, the priorities recognized by farmers should be taken into consideration, and the program contents should also be developed taking into account the size of effect and feasibility recognized by farmers.

Keyword

Farmers; occupational disease; Safety; Health