BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Filipino farmers face unique occupational challenges that increase the risk of mental health issues, particularly anxiety. This study aims to determine the different personal, environmental, socioeconomic, occupational, and psychosocial factors associated with anxiety symptoms among Filipino farmers in Central Luzon.

Chain referral sampling method was used to recruit participants for the study, who underwent screening based on the eligibility criteria. Eligible participants were then asked about anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), while the validated, researcher-constructed Data Collection Tool for Factors Associated with Anxiety Symptoms (DCFAAS) was used to determine the farmers’ exposure to a variety of factors. Microsoft Excel was utilized in computing for frequency and percent distribution of participants, in each factor. Binary logistic regression was used to compute crude and adjusted odds ratio of each factor thru IBM SPSS Statistics®.

Among the 113 eligible farmers enrolled in the study, only 19 (16.8%) experienced anxiety symptoms, with excessive worrying, which was seen among 45 participants (39.8%). The mental health of Filipino farmers was significantly affected by the presence of physical illness (OR = 10.70 [95% CI 1.367, 83.773]) and having relatives affecting work completion (OR = 6.45 [95% CI 1.346, 30.896]). 

Despite the low prevalence of anxiety symptoms in this study, the findings suggest government policies to improve mental health service access to farmers, to integrate psychosocial support into agricultural programs, and to address family-related work pressures. By addressing these factors, it can improve farmer productivity and promote overall well-being, putting emphasis on the mental health of the Filipino farmers.

Introduction: Pesticides are widely used in the agricultural sector to increase production by cutting down costs and improving the quality of produce. However, these chemicals come with serious health effects when an individual is exposed to large quantities at once, or low quantities over time. Objectives: The objective of the study is to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of farmers, as well as investigate the correlation among knowledge, attitude, and practice variables. Methods: This research study used a cross-sectional design. Samples were drawn based on a multistage sampling of 387 agricultural workers. The target site was in Southern Philippines and the sample was selected using multi-stage sampling from the identified municipalities. Survey questionnaires were given to the respondents to measure knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) on pesticide exposure among farmers. The data were encoded using SPSS 13.0. The statistics used were both descriptive and inferential. Correlation analysis was used to study the relationship among knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: The results showed that farmers used pesticides in their farms on an average of 2.31 days per week (SD 2.13). The respondents reported that they were exposed to pesticides for about 3.46 months per cropping season (SD: 2.76), as well as from 3.34 (SD 5.92) cropping seasons per year. The mean score of the respondents on the knowledge aspect of the questionnaire was 5.91 out of 10 items (SD 3.28). The average score on practices on pesticide use among respondents was 3.37 (SD 1.75) with 8 items to evaluate practices. Lastly, the mean score on attitude on pesticide use among respondents was 5.34 (SD 3.31) over 12 items. Analysis showed a moderate correlation between knowledge and attitude with Pearson’s r = 0.651 (P <0.0001), also a moderate correlation between knowledge and practices at r = 0.521 (P <0.0001), and a moderate correlation between practices and attitudes at r = 0.443 (P <0.0001). Factor analysis revealed three components for items within practices and attitudes and two for items within knowledge. Conclusion Pesticide use in the Philippines continues to present various challenges in terms of its safety to humans and the environment. Farmers do not have adequate knowledge of pesticides and their proper management from use to disposal. They need to improve knowledge, encourage a healthy and safe attitude and correct practices on the hazards from pesticides, as well as its proper usage and handling. It is recommended that capacity building and training for farmers are initiated to address inadequacies in their knowledge, attitudes and practices.
Knowledge ; Attitude ; Farmers

This descriptive cross-sectional study presents the health-seeking behaviors among older adults in Central Aurora, Philippines. Using a survey questionnaire, 179 older adults from 4 municipalities were interviewed. Participants were mostly 60-64-year-old married females, living with spouse, children, and grandchildren, with an average monthly income of 1001-5000 pesos, working as farmers, were self-employed, were Roman Catholics, and with an elementary level of education. The health-seeking behaviors were described in terms of physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions, with the spiritual dimension garnering the highest average mean of 4.01 (scale of 1 or never to 5 or always), and physical and mental dimensions the lowest average means of 3.58 and 3.31, respectively. These results attest to the Filipino value for the spiritual realm as an important dimension of health seeking behaviors and the physical and the mental dimensions of lesser concern. Recommendations include creating a wellness program to enhance health-seeking behaviors in all dimensions.
Humans ; Female ; Child ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Spouses ; Catholicism ; Farmers ; Cities ; Philippines ; Marriage ; Health Behavior ; Family ; Health Promotion ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Educational Status

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Europe ; Farmers ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Quality of Life ; Schistosomiasis ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adult ; China ; Dimethoate/analogs & derivatives* ; Farmers/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pesticides/adverse effects* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Telomerase/genetics* ; Telomere/physiology*

Introduction: Pesticides are widely used in the agricultural sector to increase production by cutting costs and improving product quality. However, these chemicals come with serious health effects when individuals are exposed to large quantities at once or low amounts over time. Objective: This study aimed to identify the health symptoms and physical assessment findings affecting farmers from their repeated occupational exposure to pesticides in a rural region in the Philippines. Methods: This research study used a cross-sectional design, and samples were drawn based on a multistage sampling of 387 agricultural workers. The target site was in the southern Philippines, and the sample was selected randomly from the identified municipalities. Survey questionnaires were given to the respondents, and a physical assessment was made by medical doctors and trained registered nurses. The data were encoded using SPSS™ 13.0. The statistics used were both descriptive and inferential. Results: The farmers used pesticides in their farms with an average of 2.3 days per week (SD: 2.13). The mean total spraying time was 3.07 hours (SD: ± 14.76) per day. The average amount of pesticide used in an application was 1.33 L per application (SD: ± 6.53). Sixty-three percent (63%) had spills while spraying, and 47% reported having spilled pesticides while mixing. Farmers were assessed and found to have experienced symptoms and exhibited physical assessment findings surrounding the following body systems: general, EENT, neurologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and integumentary systems. Abnormalities in laboratory parameters were also observed among the respondents. The mini-mental state examination was done to test if the respondents showed signs of cognitive impairment. The results showed that most respondents (93.95%) had normal cognitive function, while 6.05% of respondents had some level of cognitive impairment. Associations were also tested using Phi Coefficient, and certain pesticide exposure variables were associated with farmers' physical findings and symptoms experienced by farmers. Conclusion This study translates pesticide’s health impact by identifying the common symptoms experienced by farmers and concerning physical assessment findings. The study found that farmers suffered from various symptoms concerning the general health, eye, ears, nose, and throat region, neurological system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and the integumentary system. In addition, the laboratory parameters of the participants also exhibited abnormalities indicative of exposure and possible adverse effects from pesticides.
Farmers ; Pesticides

Abattoirs ; Agriculture ; Animals ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Farmers ; Korea ; Livestock ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phenotype ; Prevalence ; Red Meat ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Swine ; Tetracycline ; Zinc

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethnic Groups ; Farmers ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Transients and Migrants ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

Objective: This study determined the correlation between erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and insulin sensitivity in agricultural workers and non-agricultural workers. Methodology: The cross-sectional comparative study was undertaken in 45 agricultural and 45 non-agricultural workers from Nat-Kan Village, Magway Township. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity and serum malondialdehyde were measured by spectrophotometric method. Insulin sensitivity was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results: Mean erythrocyte AChE activity was significantly lower in agricultural (3553.99 IU/L) compared with non-agricultural workers (4432.68 IU/L) (p<0.001). A significant high level of mean serum MDA was observed in agricultural workers (0.74 versus 0.28 μmol/L, p<0.001). Median HOMA-IR value was significantly higher in agricultural (2.74) than that of non-agricultural workers (2.28) (p<0.05). The risk of insulin resistance was 2.8 times greater in agricultural workers than non-agricultural workers (OR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.18 to 6.72). Erythrocyte AChE activity had weak negative correlation with serum MDA level (r=-0.357, p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (ρ= -0.305, p<0.05). There was a significant but weak positive correlation between serum MDA level and HOMA-IR (ρ=0.355, p<0.001). Conclusion Organophosphate pesticide exposure lowered erythrocyte AChE activity and increased oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is partly attributed to the development of insulin resistance
Farmers

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases and to identify factors influencing disability among fruit tree farmers in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 1150 subjects of the Namgaram study, 460 fruit tree farmers completed a questionnaire and underwent clinical evaluations, including physical assessments, laboratory tests, simple radiographic examinations, and magnetic resonance imaging studies of the upper extremities. Disability was assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand outcome measure. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and regression analyses using SPSS Win 24.0. RESULTS: The prevalences of upper extremity MSK diseases were 60.4% for rotator cuff tear, 20.9% for golf elbow, 40.9% for tennis elbow, and 58.0% for hand osteoarthritis. Disability in fruit farmers was associated with female sex (B=−4.47, p<0.001), smoking (B=−4.00, p=0.026), depression (B=2.83, p<0.001), working hours (B=0.96, p=0.001), injuries of the arms (B=10.78, p<0.001) and shoulders (B=6.75, p<0.001), and numbers of upper extremity MSK diseases (B=2.02, p=0.001), with 26.5% of the variance explained (R2=0.265, Durbin-Watson test=1.81, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Fruit tree farmers remain at risk for MSK diseases of the upper extremities. Disability tended to worsen with more MSK diseases. It is necessary to not only educate farmers about prevention strategies, but also to develop an effective management system for agricultural work-related MSK diseases and a surveillance system at the government level for the health problems of farmers.
Arm ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Elbow ; Farmers ; Female ; Fruit ; Golf ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Osteoarthritis ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prevalence ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tears ; Tennis Elbow ; Trees ; Upper Extremity