Factors Affecting Cholinesterase Blood Level of Durian Orchard Farmers, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study aims to study general information about characteristics of chemical usage, knowledge, attitude, behavior of durian farmers, and to analyze factors from exposure to pesticide that affect durian farmers. The study samples consisted of 260 durian farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Data were collected using questionnaires from October 2022 to July 2023. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum, minimum, and analytical statistics of inferential statistics. The research results from the sample group which are mostly female (54.23%), aged between 50 and 59 years (48.46%), graduated from high school (29.23%) and cholinesterase enzyme levels were unsafe (32.69%), risky (32.69%), safe (29.23%) and normal (5.39%). Spraying by themselves or were hired to spray (48.09), using pesticides > 3 days/month (64.05%), use chemical in the avermectin group (85.00%). Having a good level of knowledge (85.77%), attitudes (64.62%), and have moderate risky behavior (93.10%). Factors that affect the exposure to pesticides of durian farmers with statistical significance included farmers aged between 50 and 59 years, cholinesterase enzyme levels were unsafe 0.56 times in people aged between 20 and 49 years (95% CI 0.33-0.96), farmers who smoked cholinesterase enzyme levels were unsafe 2.73 times of those who did not smoke (95% CI 1.20-6.20), Farmers with high-risk work had an unsafe level of cholinesterase 2.04 times of those who low-risk work (95% CI 1.15-3.62). Factors regarding age, smoking, and work characteristics have a statistically significant effect with cholinesterase enzyme levels. Conclusion from this research suggest that there should be a development of a health surveillance system from exposure to chemical in durian farmers.