ภาวะสุขภาพตามความเสี่ยงของเกษตรกรผู้ปลูกปาล์มน้ำมัน ในตำบลมะขามเตี้ย อำเภอเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี

Jitralada Kittijaruwattana; Pitchaporn Ngampradit; Kingkaew Srikaew; Natthakan Meekaew; Aujchariya Chotikhun; Kaknokrat Chonsin

Authors

Jitralada Kittijaruwattana Faculty of Science and Industrial Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Surat Thani Campus
Pitchaporn Ngampradit Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University
Kingkaew Srikaew Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University
Natthakan Meekaew Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University
Aujchariya Chotikhun Faculty of Science and Industrial Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Surat Thani Campus
Kaknokrat Chonsin Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University

Keywords:

Health status related to risk, oil palm farmers, rapid entire body assessment (REBA)

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the health status and risk factors among oil palm farmers in Surat Thani province. Data were collected from 186 participants using a health risk assessment questionnaire and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

The majority of participants were male (83.3%) and Thai (94.6%), with a mean age of 39.7 ± 10.3 years, mean body weight of 61.3 ± 7.6 kg, and mean height of 166.1 ± 16.1 cm. Most participants (75.3%) had a normal body mass index (BMI). A large proportion (88.2%) performed lifting and moving tasks, and 60.2% reported musculoskeletal pain or injuries. Regarding environmental exposure, 64.5% were exposed to dust and 73.7% to biological hazards (e.g., pathogens, animals, or insects). Additionally, 80.0% reported fatigue, exhaustion, and excessive sweating due to heat exposure, while 73.1% experienced skin rashes from insect bites or stings.

Ergonomic risk assessment using REBA showed that 52% of participants were at high risk (score ≥11), 32% at moderate-to-high risk (score 8–10), and 16% at moderate risk (score 4–7).

The findings suggest that interventions such as improving work posture, modifying work techniques, and using appropriate tools or equipment are necessary to reduce ergonomic risks and prevent work-related injuries.

References

Akkeesuwan, A. (2017). Prevalence and ergonomic risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among palm cutting workers in Sinpun Subdistrict, Khao Phanom District, Krabi Province (Master’s thesis, Thammasat University).

Bhuanantanondh, P., Buchholz, B., Arphorn, S., Kongtip, P., & Woskie, S. R. (2021). The prevalence of and risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders in Thai oil palm harvesting workers: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5474. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105474

Byerlee, D., Falcon, W. P., & Naylor, R. L. (2017). The tropical oil crop revolution: Food, feed, fuel, and forests. Oxford University Press.

Chonsin, K., Buaphet, S., Intarasombut, J., Chotikhun, A., & Kittijaruwattana, J. (2025). The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment among traditional Krajood (Lepironia articulata) handicraft workers: A case study in Southern Thailand. Applied Sciences, 15(6), 3142. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063142

Kittijaruwattana, J., Ratcha, M., Tuprakay, S., & Surach, A. (2023). A systematic review: Using trends of ergonomic risk assessment tools. Health Science Journal of Thailand, 5(4), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.55164/hsjt.v5i4.262942

Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

Kunsaengkaew, C., Thongrak, S., & Kiatpathomchai, S. (2020). Factors affecting the implementation of RSPO standard practices of smallholders in Surat Thani Province. KKU Research Journal (Graduate Studies), 8(3), 97–112.

Mehraban, N., Kubitza, C., Alamsyah, Z., & Qaim, M. (2021). Oil palm cultivation, household welfare, and exposure to economic risk in the Indonesian small farm sector. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 72(3), 901–915. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12433

Mongkonkansai, J., Thanapop, C., Madardam, U., Cheka, A., Epong, A., & Arwae, A. (2020). Factors related to musculoskeletal disorders in quality control palm workers. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 27(2), 207–210. https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/122254

Murphy, D. J. (2014). The future of oil palm as a major global crop: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Palm Oil Research, 26(1), 1–24.

Nawi, N. S., Deros, B. M., Rahman, M. N., Sukadarin, E. H., & Nordin, N. (2016). Malaysian oil palm workers are in pain: Hazards identification and ergonomics-related problems. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 16, 50–57.

Ng, Y. G., Mohd Tamrin, S. B., Mohd Yusoff, I. S., Hashim, Z., Deros, B. M., Abu Bakar, S., & How, V. (2015). Risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm fruit harvesters. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 22(2), 286–292. https://doi.org/10.5604/12321966.1152101

Ng, Y. G., Tamrin, S. B., Yik, W. M., Yusoff, I. S., & Mori, I. (2014). The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder and association with productivity loss. Industrial Health, 52, 78–85. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2013-0017

Park, K., Roh, S., Lee, J., Kwon, S. C., Jeong, M., & Lee, S. (2015). Health status and related factors in farmers by SF-12. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 27, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-014-0046-8

Rongthong, M., Kongtawelert, A., Sujirarat, D., & Bhuanantanondh, P. (2019). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among young oil palm harvesting workers. Journal of Health Sciences and Wellness, 23(1), 77–92.

Tewtow, S., Bhuanantanondh, P., & Mekhora, K. (2019). Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Thai oil palm workers. Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, 18(4), 630–637. https://doi.org/10.7232/iems.2019.18.4.630

Thiamthan, C., & Rakprasit, J. (2019). Health status and factors associated with health status among sugarcane farmers. Safety & Environment Review, 4(2), 83–91.