Accident and Health Problems of Traditional Diver and the Factors That Affect the District Seram, Maluku

Accident and occupational diseases in traditional divers of Seram Regency, Maluku increase every year. Steps to socialize the prevention, also the know-how of diving technique must be taken by government institutions as well as non-governmental organizations. The purpose of this research is to learn the accidents and health disturbances experienced by divers and the correlation with diving activities of traditional divers in West Seram County of Maluku Province. This is an observational study carried out from July until December 2010 using cross sectional method. The population is traditional divers in Piru District, West Seram Regency of Maluku Province. Samples are taken from a selected population as many as 38 respondents. Variables observed are respondents characteristics, experienced accidents, health disturbances and diving activities. Data is collected through observation and direct interviews using questionnaires and interview guidelines. The collected data is analyzed descriptively in frequency table, graphic and cross tabulation forms. The research result showed that respondents age was 16-55 years old, work tenure was 2 months to 20 years, 81.6% was married, education ranged from no schooling to high school graduates. Experienced accidents consisted of scratched by corals, bitten by fish and corals, poisonous sea animals, compressor pipe was trapped, and drowned. Health disturbances experienced by divers were bleeding, headache, pain in joints and backbone, blurred vision, deaf, excessive fatigue, itchiness, tremor, unconscious/faint, difficulty in urinating, and vertigo. Respondents dived from 5-120 minutes, dived in 5-25 meters underwater, diving activity was done everyday (76.3%) and 68.4% used compressor. Factors of diving gear, work tenure, length and depth of diving, and diving frequency had a tendency to affect divers accident; while factors of diving gear, work tenure, length and depth of diving, and diving frequency had a tendency to affect divers health disturbances. To protect divers, it is suggested to implement the SAFE (slowly ascend for every dive) principle for every diver, to do safety stop while ascending, and enough interval before next diving.Keywords: accident, health disturbances, traditional diver