Background:People working outdoors in the Map Ta Phut pollution control area of Thailand require comprehen-sive health monitoring.In the past,studies have been done on the health effects of pollutants.However,there are few studies on musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs),and Thailand is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.Methods:This cross-sectional study examines access to health services and factors affecting MSDs among outdoor pollution workers(OPWs).The sample group includes OPWs,including local fisherman,street vendors,public car drivers,and traffic police.We studied 50 people from each of these groups,for a total of 200 people.Data were analyzed with inferential statistics using Chi-square test,McNemar test,and Univariate logistic regression.Results:The OPWs reported experiencing significantly more total MSDs pain than they did in the past(P＜0.05).Factors affecting current MSDs pain,including occupation and working days per week,were significant(P＜0.05).The street vendor group and public car driver group had(odds ratio[OR]=2.253,95％confidence interval[CI]:1.101 to 5.019)and(OR=2.681,95％CI:1.191 to 6.032)times higher risks of MSDs pain,respectively.OPWs who work＞5 days per week had a(OR=1.464,95％CI:1.093 to 2.704)times higher risk of MSDs pain.52.7％of OPWs with MSDs,pain(n=110)had received an annual health check-up.In the past year,50.9％had minor illnesses and 21.8％had severe illnesses.OPWs receiving free treatment and visiting health service stations for no cost comprised 77.3％and 51.8％,respectively.60.9％used their right to receive treatment with universal health insurance cards.Conclusions:The study indicates that occupational groups with MSDs pain problems should exercise this right,according to the worker protection law.Local health agencies should organize activities or create accessible media to promote preventive medicine services,as many OPWs believe that health services can only be accessed when illness occurs.

Background:People working outdoors in the Map Ta Phut pollution control area of Thailand require comprehen-sive health monitoring.In the past,studies have been done on the health effects of pollutants.However,there are few studies on musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs),and Thailand is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.Methods:This cross-sectional study examines access to health services and factors affecting MSDs among outdoor pollution workers(OPWs).The sample group includes OPWs,including local fisherman,street vendors,public car drivers,and traffic police.We studied 50 people from each of these groups,for a total of 200 people.Data were analyzed with inferential statistics using Chi-square test,McNemar test,and Univariate logistic regression.Results:The OPWs reported experiencing significantly more total MSDs pain than they did in the past(P＜0.05).Factors affecting current MSDs pain,including occupation and working days per week,were significant(P＜0.05).The street vendor group and public car driver group had(odds ratio[OR]=2.253,95％confidence interval[CI]:1.101 to 5.019)and(OR=2.681,95％CI:1.191 to 6.032)times higher risks of MSDs pain,respectively.OPWs who work＞5 days per week had a(OR=1.464,95％CI:1.093 to 2.704)times higher risk of MSDs pain.52.7％of OPWs with MSDs,pain(n=110)had received an annual health check-up.In the past year,50.9％had minor illnesses and 21.8％had severe illnesses.OPWs receiving free treatment and visiting health service stations for no cost comprised 77.3％and 51.8％,respectively.60.9％used their right to receive treatment with universal health insurance cards.Conclusions:The study indicates that occupational groups with MSDs pain problems should exercise this right,according to the worker protection law.Local health agencies should organize activities or create accessible media to promote preventive medicine services,as many OPWs believe that health services can only be accessed when illness occurs.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are accumulative disorders that are most frequently found in agricultural farmers. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that affect symptoms resulting from work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Cambodian farm workers working in fruit plantations in the eastern region of Thailand. METHODS: The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, and Hazard Zone Jobs Checklist techniques were used to interview 861 farmers who participated in the study. RESULTS: The data showed that men who had been working for >10 years were more at risk of neck pain than those working for < 1 year with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.90, 14.5). Among women those who had been working for >10 years experienced lower back pain with aOR 8.13, 95% CI (1.04, 63.74), compared with those who had been working for <1 year. Men whose tasks required raising the arms above shoulder height had a risk factor contributing to neck pain of aOR 1.68, 95% CI (1.08, 2.61) when compared with those who did not work with this posture, and women had aOR 1.82, 95% CI (1.07, 3.12) when compared with those who did not work with this posture. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that work-related health conditions are monitored in migrant plantation workers to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal disorders.
Agriculture* ; Arm ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Checklist ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Farmers* ; Female ; Fruit* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Neck Pain ; Odds Ratio ; Posture ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder ; Thailand* ; Transients and Migrants ; Upper Extremity

Frozen food processing workers work under a cold environment which can cause several adverse health effects.This study explored factors affecting workers' health in the frozen food industry in Thailand. Participants comprised 497 workers exposed to a cold working environment and 255 office workers who served as the controls. Data were collected by a survey on the work environment, and the interview of workers for abnormal symptoms. The exposed group had the following characteristics: 52.7% male, overall average age of 27 (SD 6.6) years old, attained elementary education (Grade 4 and Grade 6) (54.1%), married (48.9%), smokers (21.3%), alcohol consumption (31.0%), duration of work was between 1 and 5 years (65.2%), working 6 days a week (82.7%), 1-5 hours of overtime per week (33.8%), office workers (33.9%); work category: sizing (6.9%), peeling (28.3%) dissecting (22.2%), and in the warehouse (8.6%). The temperature in the work environment ranged from 17.2degreesC to 19.2degreesC in most sections, -18.0degreesC in the warehouse, and 25degreesC in the office areas. Warehouse workers had more abnormal symptoms than controls including repeated pain in the musculoskeletal system (OR 11.9; 95% CI 6.12-23.45), disturbance throughout the body (OR 4.60; 95% CI 2.00-10.56), respiratory symptoms (OR 9.73; 95% CI 3.53-26.80), episodic finger symptoms (OR 13.51; 95% CI 5.17-35.33). The study results suggest that workers' health should be monitored especially with regard to back and muscle pain, respiratory symptoms, episodic finger symptoms, and cardiovascular symptoms. Health promotion campaigns such as antismoking and reduction of alcohol consumption should be established because smoking and alcohol consumption are contributing factors to the pathogenesis of Raynaud's phenomenon and peripheral vascular disorders such as hypertension and heart disease.
Alcohol Drinking ; Education ; Fingers ; Frozen Foods* ; Health Promotion ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Musculoskeletal System ; Myalgia ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thailand*

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the lead levels in blood samples from nielloware workers, to determine airborne lead levels, to describe the workers' hygiene behaviors, and to ascertain and describe any correlations between lead levels in blood samples and lead levels in airborne samples. METHODS: Blood samples and airborne samples from 45 nielloware workers were collected from nielloware workplaces in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Thailand. Lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), at a wavelength of 283.3 nm. FAAS was used especially adequate for metals at relatively high concentration levels. RESULTS: The geometric mean of the 45 airborne lead levels was 81.14 microg/m3 (range 9.0-677.2 microg/m3). The geometric mean blood lead level of the 45 workers was 16.25 microg/dL (range 4.59-39.33 microg/dL). No worker had a blood lead level > 60 microg/dL. A statistically significantly positive correlation was found between airborne lead level and blood lead levels (r = 0.747, p < 0.01). It was observed that personal hygiene was poor; workers smoked and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. It was concluded that these behaviors had a significant correlation with blood lead levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required due to the correlation found between blood leads and airborne lead levels.
Absorption ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Drinking ; Eating ; Hand ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Metals ; Occupational Health ; Smoke ; Spectrum Analysis ; Thailand