Health Impacts and their Related Factors with the Agriculturalist Health from their Chemical Substance Usage in Tobacco Plantation in Pak Kwae Sub-district, Muang District, Sukhothai Province

Abstract

The research’s objectives were to study the agriculturalists’ health impacts from tobacco plantation’s chemical usage, and their related factors in tobacco in Pak Kwae sub-district, Muang district, Sukhothai Province. This mixed method research was conducted by applying the qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Systematic random sampling technique was applied to select 250 samples from 605 tobacco plantation people, with selected 50 key informants in Pak Kwae sub-district, Muang district, Sukhothai province. Data were collected by the use of documentary analysis, in-depth interviews, group discussions, non-participant observations and a set of questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson product – moment correlation and content analysis. The research results were as follows. Most participants in the study were affected by chemical usage. Psychological impact was mostly found, while the other spiritual, social, and physical impacts were identified respectively. The risky and unsafe behaviors were found which were significantly related to the physical health impact were (r =.743), risky behaviors (r=.808), safety checking and equipment storage behavior (r =.740).)