Working Conditions and Urinalysis Dipstick Testing among Female Rice Farmers: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Sara Arphorn, Aniruth Manothum, Kotchakorn Santiwung, Kanograt Pangunta, Kunio Hara and Tomohiro Ishimaru
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Sara Arphorn: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Aniruth Manothum: Department of Industrial Arts, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Lampang Rajabhat University, Lampang 52100, Thailand
Kotchakorn Santiwung: Department of Agricultural Extension, Muang, Nan 55000, Thailand
Kanograt Pangunta: Srinachuen Health Promoting Hospital, Wiangsa, Nan 55110, Thailand
Kunio Hara: Department of Occupational Safety and Health Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu 8078555, Japan
Tomohiro Ishimaru: Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 8078555, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-10

Abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess working conditions and renal function among female rice farmers in Nan Province, Thailand. Purposive random sampling was used to select participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected from 65 female rice farmers using in-depth interviews. A walk-through survey was performed to examine hazards in the rice farm and a dipstick test was used for urinalysis. The results demonstrated that all rice farming stages contained risks from physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards and that no measures had been implemented to protect participants’ health from these risks. The screening test results showed low urinary pH (5–6) in 54 women (83.0%), but high urinary specific gravity (1.030) in 25 women (38.5%). Participants’ urine contained leukocytes in 15 women (23.1%), protein in 14 women (21.5%) and blood in 13 women (20%). This study results suggest that farming activities affect female rice farmers’ health and safety. Urinalysis dipstick tests, which can be administered at the local public health promoting hospital, should be used to assess the occupational health status. The results will be useful for health surveillance and follow-up of the participants. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in a larger study including non-farmers.

Keywords: female workers; renal function; rice farmers; urinalysis; working conditions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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