Factors Related to Safety Behaviors in Preventing Lead Exposure in Children among Cast Net Workers in Surat Thani Province

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to 1) scrutinize the personal factors, knowledge, and safety practices for preventing lead exposure in children and 2) analyze the relationships among these factors among cast net makers in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. The study samples consisted of 145 cast net-making parents or guardians who had children aged 0–5 years living in the same household. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated by three experts, with a content validity index (IOC) of 0.98. The reliability of the knowledge section yielded a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.841, and that of the behavior section was 0.740. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The research findings revealed that the majority of respondents had a low level of knowledge regarding safety in preventing lead exposure in children (37.9%) and a moderate level of safety practices (35.2%). The results of the correlation analysis exhibited that safety behaviors in preventing lead exposure in children were significantly related to family income (p-value=0.031) and safety knowledge in preventing lead exposure in children (p-value< 0.01). This research recommends promoting and providing education on lead safety in children who work as fishing net operators or are exposed to lead, and emphasizing practices to reduce lead exposure in children from birth to 5 years of age.