Farmers’ health and social insurance perceptions – A case study from a remote rural region in Greece

Abstract

Abstract The agricultural sector, an important economic sector in Greece, is inextricably faced with health and safety risks, with farmers encountering various health and safety risks in their farming activities. A quantitative survey on a random sample of 263 farmers in a remote Greek region was conducted to achieve the threefold objectives of this work: First, to assess the health and safety hazards associated with the agricultural profession, along with exploring the distinct socio-demographic characteristics of farmers that express job satisfaction and prefer the public health and insurance system; second, to investigate the effectiveness of social policies on health and safety issues confronted by farmers; third, to assess any correlation between job satisfaction and perception of social policy practices. Results indicate that women, younger and highly educated farmers are more optimistic about the agricultural profession and take individual protective measures. Women in their 30s, highly educated and with lower incomes prefer the public health insurance system, whereas the private health and insurance system is the choice of male farmers with high family incomes and large farms. Most farmers have mainly experienced respiratory, ophthalmic and otalgia problems and had more working accidents in comparison to other economic activities.