A Study of Health Problems and Different Types of Agricultural Production
10.2185/jjrm.32.65
- VernacularTitle:農業生産構造と健康障害に関する研究
- Author:
Takeshi Sugaya
;
Shigeki Hayashi
;
Masato Hayashi
;
Tomio Matsuoka
;
Shunji Okubo
;
Akira Kotanagi
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
1983;32(2):65-71
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
A study was made to elucidate growing health problems confronting women in rural communities today amidst drastic changes in agriculture.
From the standpoint of production structure, the area covered by our survey was divided into single-crop (paddy-rice), paddy-rice and fruits (apple), paddy-rice and water melon, and fishing village districts. In each of these districts, we conducted a survey by the use of a questionnaire and a health examination.
1, About 45 to 70 % of women engaged in farming complained that they could not take enough time to sleep. Especially in the paddy-rice and water melon producing district, the percentage was high.
2. Female farmers who complained of pains in the legs and the lower part of the back accounted for 40-60 % of the total. The rates were high in the rice producing district, and the paddy-rice and water melon producing district. This is probably due to the nature of farm work. However, the cause of the complaints was not always clear in the paddy-rice district.
3. Depending on the working postures (work on the stepladden in the orchard, work on hillsides, work in the supine position, etc.), the ailing region they complained about differed.
4. Those women who take care of supplementary work when machines are employed said that they feel they are subordinate to mechnization.
5. When pesticides are used, 10-20 % of the subjects showed toxic symptoms. In the paddy-rice and apple growing district, high ratios were recorded.
6. Of the total, 52.7 % were found negative in the mass health screening. The rate was the highest in the paddy-rice and water melon producing district.
7. The obesity rate rose in proportion to the rise in age.
8. The incidence of hypertension (WHO criteria) was the lowest in the fishing community, followed by the paddy-rice and apple district, and the rice producing district in that order.
9. As regards the hemoglobin level, those who showed less than 12.0 g/dl accounted for 11 to 32%. The level was lowest in the paddy-rice and apple producing district, followed by the paddy-rice district and the fishing village. There were few who need medical treatment immediately.
10. Abnormality of liver function was found among some 5 % of the examined. Serum cholesterol levels were lower in the paddy-rice district than in the other districts.
