Cadmium Contamination in Farmland Soil and Water Near Zinc Mining Site

This study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Phatadpadaeng Subdistrict, Mae Sod District, Tak Province, Thailand. This study aimed to determine cadmium concentration in farmland soil and water as well as at the residence of farmers and households. As many as 48 samples of farmers' residence soil and water, twelve samples of households and six samples of farmland soil and eight samples of farmland water were investigated for cadmium concentration using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the analysis of the difference of cadmium concentration between farmland soil and residence soil, farmland water and residence water. The results showed no statistically difference among all matrixes, however, farmland soil and farmland water showed highest concentration compared to those of resident farmers and households. The cadmium concentrations in all samples were far below the limit values. This study clearly showed that working conditions of farmers demonstrated higher level of cadmium compared to the living conditions. The cause of this contamination might be from the activities of the surroundings industry. Therefore, it would be recommended that farmers should consider for cadmium exposure while working in farm

Work ability among elderly agriculturists in Thailand

We aimed to assess work ability (WA) and identify the factors affecting it among elderly agriculturists in Thailand. In a cross-sectional survey, 170 elderly agriculturists completed a questionnaire with two sections: work-related data and the Work Ability Index (WAI). The result showed that the most common WAI level was moderate. Univariate correlation analysis showed that WAI level and WAI score were associated with demographic characteristics and health behaviors. Multivariate correlation analysis showed that WAI level was significantly associated with exercise behavior and sleep duration. Moreover, WAI score was significantly associated with body height. Our findings represented that elderly agriculturists had moderate WAI. WAI is influenced by demographic characteristics and health behaviors. This study outcome suggests that enhancing elderly workers’ health behaviors would restore or increase their work ability

Willingness to care for blood-borne virus-infected patients in Thailand

Background: Although stigma and discrimination by nurses against patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported, potential determinants of nurses’ willingness to care for these patients have not been well studied in Thailand. Aims: To identify factors associated with Thai nurses’ willingness to care for patients infected with HIV or HCV. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression analysis of data from a questionnaire completed by nurses at a large hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Results: Of 626 nurses, 546 (87%) nurses participated. Eleven per cent (59) and 6% (34) had previously experienced HIV- or HCV-infected blood contamination incidents, respectively. Forty-four per cent (240) and 38% (208) reported unwillingness to care for HIV- or HCV-infected patients, respectively. Willingness to care was less common [adjusted odds ratios 0.51 (0.34–0.74) for HIV and 0.62 (0.42–0.89) for HCV] in nurses aged ≥ 40 years and in those who feared HCV [0.63 (0.37–0.99)], but not HIV [0.84 (0.5–1.26)] transmission. Nurses who had confidence in protecting themselves against infection with HIV [1.84 (1.52–2.04)] and HCV [1.87 (1.45–2.18)], and accepting attitudes towards HIV-infected co-workers [1.39 (1.08–1.66)] but not HCV-infected co-workers [1.16 (0.83–1.5)], were more willing to care for HIV- and HCV-infected patients. Conclusions: Around 4 in 10 Thai nurses in our sample were unwilling to care for HIV- or HCV-infected patients. Minimizing the risk of nosocomial transmission and improving the public perception of infected individuals may help improve nurses’ willingness to care for such patients, in Thailand or elsewhere