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Lee H, Cho SY, Kim JS, Yoon SY, Kim BI, An JM, Kim KB. Difference in health status of Korean farmers according to gender. Ann Occup Environ Med 2019; 31:7. [PMID: 30899524 PMCID: PMC6407243 DOI: 10.1186/s40557-019-0287-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The objective of this study was to compare differences in lifestyle diseases, musculoskeletal pain, psychosocial stress, and self-health awareness according to gender in Korean farmers. Methods The study population comprised 436 farmers residing in rural areas in Korea. A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and musculoskeletal pain. The psychosocial well-being index short form (PWI-SF) was used to survey psychosocial stress, and the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) was used to survey self-health awareness. In addition, a clinical examination was performed for each participant, and lifestyle diseases were identified through a health checkup. Results Among lifestyle diseases, females showed a significantly higher proportion than males for metabolic syndrome (OR: 4.57 [95% CI, 1.67-12.51]). For musculoskeletal pain, females again showed significantly higher proportion than males for hand pain (OR: 16.79 [95% CI, 3.09-91.30]), and pain in at least one body part (OR: 2.34 [95% CI, 1.16-4.70]). For psychosocial stress, females showed a significantly higher proportion than males for high-risk stress (OR: 3.10 [95% CI, 1.17-8.24]). Among the items in self-health awareness, females showed significantly higher proportion than males for mental component score (MCS) (OR: 3.10 [95% CI, 1.52-6.31]) and total score (OR: 2.34 [95% CI, 1.11-4.90]). Conclusions For all items that showed significant differences, females showed higher proportion than males, which indicates that female farmers tended to have poorer overall health than male farmers. Therefore, specialized programs will have to be developed to improve the health of female farmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Yong Cho
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Seok Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Yong Yoon
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Bu-Il Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Min An
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Beom Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, 179, 1gongdan-ro, Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Republic of Korea
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Abstract
A change in employment trends, in the nature of occupation and in the number of working hours has an impact on the diseases prevalent in people. Using data from a World Health Organization 2007 study on global ageing and adult health, this research looks at the effect of past work histories on the prevalence of selected chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke, angina and depression in India. By using a bivariate and multivariate analysis, this study shows that all the selected chronic diseases were significantly higher in urban areas, especially amongst people who were educated upto a higher secondary level and above and were from the richest wealth quintile. The chances of all these selected chronic diseases, except for depression, were also found to be significantly higher among those who were working in the non-manual sector. It was also found that the expected odds of having diabetes and stroke were significantly higher among those employees who worked for more than eight hours a day than their counterparts who worked for less than eight hours a day after adjusting important confounders. Based on these findings, the study suggests that the government should implement some specific policy measures; and take steps which will help employees cope with harmful work schedules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Pal
- Research Scholar, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Deonar, Mumbai, India
| | - Laxmi Kant Dwivedi
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Demography & Statistics, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Deonar, Mumbai, India
| | - Dolly Kumari
- Research Scholar, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Deonar, Mumbai, India
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Habib RR, Hojeij S, Elzein K. Gender in occupational health research of farmworkers: a systematic review. Am J Ind Med 2014; 57:1344-67. [PMID: 25227724 PMCID: PMC4257096 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Farmwork is one of the most hazardous occupations for men and women. Research suggests sex/gender shapes hazardous workplace exposures and outcomes for farmworkers. This paper reviews the occupational health literature on farmworkers, assessing how gender is treated and interpreted in exposure-outcome studies. Methods The paper evaluates peer-reviewed articles on men and women farmworkers' health published between 2000 and 2012 in PubMed or SCOPUS. Articles were identified and analyzed for approaches toward sampling, data analysis, and use of exposure indicators in relation to sex/gender. Results 18% of articles reported on and interpreted sex/gender differences in health outcomes and exposures. Sex/gender dynamics often shaped health outcomes, yet adequate data was not collected on established sex/gender risk factors relating to study outcomes. Conclusion Research can better incorporate sex/gender analysis into design, analytical and interpretive approaches to better explore its mediation of health outcomes in light of emerging calls to mainstream gender research. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:1344–1367, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima R. Habib
- Faculty of Health SciencesAmerican University of BeirutP.O.Box: 11‐0236 Riad El Solh1107 2020BeirutLebanon
| | - Safa Hojeij
- Faculty of Health SciencesAmerican University of BeirutP.O.Box: 11‐0236 Riad El Solh1107 2020BeirutLebanon
| | - Kareem Elzein
- Faculty of Health SciencesAmerican University of BeirutP.O.Box: 11‐0236 Riad El Solh1107 2020BeirutLebanon
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Calvert GM, Lee K, Roh S, Davis KG, Tak S. Promoting and protecting worker health and safety in the Republic of Korea agricultural sector. J Agromedicine 2012; 17:326-37. [PMID: 22732072 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2012.686383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
With the exception of agriculture, all other Republic of Korea industrial sectors have comprehensive systems in place for workplace surveillance (i.e., disease, injury, and exposure), research, and targeted interventions. However, because few statistics are available on the occupational health and safety conditions in the Republic of Korea agricultural sector, there is little information to guide interventions to prevent hazardous agricultural exposures. The scant information that is currently available suggests that agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries in the Republic of Korea. Building on information obtained at the International Symposium on Development of Prevention Strategies for Agricultural Health and Safety held in Suwon, Republic of Korea, in 2005, and embellished with examples of surveillance, research, and intervention activities conducted in the United States and elsewhere, this article provides guidance to promote and protect the health of Korean agricultural workers. This information can also guide other countries to reduce agricultural hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M Calvert
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA.
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Lee CG. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Korean farmers. JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 2012. [DOI: 10.5124/jkma.2012.55.11.1054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chul Gab Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea
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Esophageal cancer among Brazilian agricultural workers: Case–control study based on death certificates. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2011; 214:151-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Revised: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 11/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Miles A, Proescholdbell RJ, Puffer E. Explaining rural/non-rural disparities in physical health-related quality of life: a study of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina. Qual Life Res 2010; 20:807-15. [PMID: 21161410 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-010-9817-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Researchers have documented lower health-related quality of life (HRQL) in rural areas. This study seeks to identify factors that can explain this disparity. METHODS United Methodist clergy in North Carolina (N = 1,513) completed the SF-12 measure of HRQL and items on chronic disease diagnoses, health behaviors, and health care access from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Differences in HRQL between rural (N = 571) and non-rural clergy (N = 942) were examined using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS Physical HRQL was significantly lower for rural clergy (-2.0; 95% CI: -2.9 to -1.1; P < 0.001). Income, body mass index, and joint disease partially accounted for the rural/non-rural difference, though a sizable disparity remained after controlling for these mediators (-1.02; 95% CI: -1.89 to -.15; P = 0.022). Mental HRQL did not differ significantly between rural and non-rural respondents (1.0, 95% CI: -0.1 to 2.1; P = 0.067). CONCLUSIONS Rural/non-rural disparities in physical HRQL are partially explained by differences in income, obesity, and joint disease in rural areas. More research into the causes and prevention of these factors is needed. Researchers also should seek to identify variables that can explain the difference that remains after accounting for these variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Miles
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Lee WJ, Cha ES, Moon EK. Disease prevalence and mortality among agricultural workers in Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2010; 25:S112-8. [PMID: 21258583 PMCID: PMC3023354 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.s.s112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to provide an overview of mortality and disease prevalence related to occupational diseases among agricultural workers in Korea. We evaluated the age-standardized mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic diseases and compared them with those of other populations using death registration data from 2004 through 2008 and the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In addition, we conducted a literature review on published articles examining the health status of farmers in Korea. Agricultural workers have a significantly higher mortality of cancer, tuberculosis, chronic respiratory diseases, liver diseases, suicide, motor and non-motor vehicle accidents. Compared to other populations, farmers have higher prevalence rates of arthritis and intervertebral disc disorders. The literature review revealed a number of work-related diseases among farmers, such as musculoskeletal diseases, pesticide poisoning, infections, and respiratory and neurologic diseases. Korean farmers demonstrate a distinct pattern of mortality and disease prevalence compared to other populations. Although lifestyle factors remain important contributors to those deaths and diseases, our study suggests that occupation is a major determinant as well. Intensive programs such as surveillance systems, therefore, should be developed in order to identify and prevent work-related diseases among agricultural workers in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Shil Cha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Kyeong Moon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Wang JH, Chang HH. Examining the types and payments of the disabilities of the insurants in the National Farmers' Health Insurance program in Taiwan. BMC Public Health 2010; 10:646. [PMID: 20977740 PMCID: PMC3091568 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2010] [Accepted: 10/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to the considerable body of literature concerning the disabilities of the general population, little information exists pertaining to the disabilities of the farm population. Focusing on the disability issue to the insurants in the Farmers' Health Insurance (FHI) program in Taiwan, this paper examines the associations among socio-demographic characteristics, insured factors, and the introduction of the national health insurance program, as well as the types and payments of disabilities among the insurants. METHODS A unique dataset containing 1,594,439 insurants in 2008 was used in this research. A logistic regression model was estimated for the likelihood of received disability payments. By focusing on the recipients, a disability payment and a disability type equation were estimated using the ordinary least squares method and a multinomial logistic model, respectively, to investigate the effects of the exogenous factors on their received payments and the likelihood of having different types of disabilities. RESULTS Age and different job categories are significantly associated with the likelihood of receiving disability payments. Compared to those under age 45, the likelihood is higher among recipients aged 85 and above (the odds ratio is 8.04). Compared to hired workers, the odds ratios for self-employed and spouses of farm operators who were not members of farmers' associations are 0.97 and 0.85, respectively. In addition, older insurants are more likely to have eye problems; few differences in disability types are related to insured job categories. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that older farmers are more likely to receive disability payments, but the likelihood is not much different among insurants of various job categories. Among all of the selected types of disability, a highest likelihood is found for eye disability. In addition, the introduction of the national health insurance program decreases the likelihood of receiving disability payments. The experience in Taiwan can be valuable for other countries that are in an initial stage to implement a universal health insurance program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiun-Hao Wang
- Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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Lee YH, Cha ES, Moon EK, Kong KA, Koh SB, Lee YK, Lee WJ. Reliability of Self-Reported Information by Farmers on Pesticide Use. J Prev Med Public Health 2010; 43:535-42. [DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.6.535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yo-Han Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea
| | - Eun Shil Cha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea
| | - Eun Kyeong Moon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea
| | - Kyoung Ae Kong
- Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance, Korea
| | - Sang-Baek Koh
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Korea
| | - Yun Keun Lee
- Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea
| | - Won Jin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea
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