Nakhon Sawan Province Research Articles

A Framework of using Digital Technology for Empowering People in Thailand’s Rural Areas: Case of Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, and Chainat Province

This research aimed 1) to study the framework in using the digital technology for empowering Thai people in rural areas, 2) to survey the information needs in digital media technology, and 3) to propose the prototype for developing the digital technology used. This research used the quantitative method in conducted the research which were divided into 3 steps: 1) surveying the opinion from 10 experts to confirmed the framework, 2) surveying the information need in the digital technology from sampling, and 3) surveying the prototype for developing an application as the digital technology used from sampling. Sampling came from 3 provinces (Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, and Chainat province) by purposive technique. The statistical methods used (mean and standard deviation) are appropriate for the data analysis. The results of each research aims were showed in this paper. The benefits of this study will be used as a guideline for developing the community in the used of digital technology. The limitation also showed as a recommendation to further study.

Assessing the genetic diversity of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. and seasonal influence on chemotypes and morphotypes in Thailand

Both genetic variation and harvesting season impact the amounts of bioactive compounds in Centella asiatica. This study investigated the seasonal influence on chemotypes and morphotypes and evaluated the genetic diversity of C. asiatica plants collected throughout Thailand. A total of 25 C. asiatica accessions was planted in the same area in Nakhon Sawan province and harvested during winter, summer, and rainy seasons. Results exhibited that variations in triterpenoid content were observed in different harvesting seasons, with total content of the four triterpenes highest during the summer season (5.98 %DW). Besides, we noted that the amount of phytochemical constituents (total phenolic, total flavonoid and total triterpenoid contents) and antioxidant were higher in winter and summer. The morphotypes were not influenced by season, while leaf area and leaf width negatively correlated with triterpenoid content. Based on chemotypes and morphtypes, we suggested the two elite accessions including Nakhon Prathom (NPT) and Nong Bua Lamphu (NBP) due to high centelloside content and large leaf. A total of 25 C. asiatica accessions was evaluated for genetic diversity by DNA fingerprints (ISSR, SCoT, and SRAP markers), resulting in a moderate genetic diversity, consisting of geography-related two populations without association with chemotypes and morphotypes. Our findings guide farmers in optimizing harvest times, and controlling centelloside content for future smart farming and insights on genetic diversity aid in future breeding and improvement of C. asiatica for medicinal industries.

A network analysis of the local pig supply chain in a repeated outbreak area of human streptococcosis in Thailand.

The present study employed a network analysis approach to scrutinize a pig supply chain in a repeated outbreak province for human streptococcosis in Thailand and identified important actors that should be focused on for tailoring appropriate interventions. Nakhon Sawan province was chosen as the study site as the cases of human streptococcosis have been consecutively reported since 2014, with the number of cases ranging from 21 to 63. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from actors along the pig supply chain, including pig farms, slaughterhouses, pork sellers, restaurants and customers. A one-mode-directed network was then constructed. Degree and betweenness centrality values were measured. We found that the supply chain of pork products comprised 314 nodes and 296 directed ties. A retailer got the highest overall degree, out-degree and betweenness centrality values at 35, 34, and 65.3, respectively. For in-degree centrality, the highest was identified in a customer at 9. Interestingly, this customer bought pork products from nine different mobile groceries. Both public health and veterinary authorities should extend their surveillance activities to cover all actors in the supply chain to strengthen overall disease prevention and control for streptococcosis.

OPTIMISING POLICY SELECTION FOR PM2.5 REDUCTION IN CENTRAL THAILAND’S AGRICULTURAL AREAS: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISIONMAKING AND SIMULATION APPROACH TOWARDS HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY

This study focuses on optimising policy directions using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Sensitivity Analysis (SA) algorithm techniques to control burning in agricultural areas, thereby reducing the amount of PM2.5 dust pollution in the atmosphere. Data were collected through pairwise comparisons from a group of 15 individuals, comprising government agency representatives (seven individuals), and agricultural workers (eight individuals) in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. Data analysis was conducted using PriEsT software. The study considered five criteria to determine the success of policies: Environmental, economic, technological, political, and social. The policy alternatives considered were sugar cane, rice, cassava, and rice. By calculating the weighted relevance of each criterion and comparing them, policies were developed to prevent burning in agricultural areas. Based on the study’s findings, economic factors (37.1%) were identified as the most significant, followed by technological (18.2%), social (17.9%), political (13.6%), and environmental (13.2%) factors. To simulate decisionmaking under uncertainty, the SA algorithm was employed through PriEsT. The results indicate that to effectively reduce burning in agricultural areas and subsequently decrease PM2.5 pollution, the government and related agencies should formulate policies that promote economic measures for handling post-harvest rice scraps.

Randomized Trial for Comparison of Tracheostomy Tie Outcomes: Conventional by Cotton Tape and Innovative by Suction Tube

Objective: To compare the outcomes of using a tracheostomy tie between a traditional cotton tape tracheostomy tie, and an innovative model, applied from a suction tube. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty-four patients that underwent tracheostomy tube replacement between June 2022 and March 2023 at Sawanpracharak Hospital, Nakhonsawan Province, were analyzed by the ENT group. Eighty-two cases were randomly divided into groups using traditional tracheostomy ties of cotton tape and 82 cases using an innovative suction tube as a tracheostomy tie. The general data of the patients were evaluated using descriptive statistics. For comparison of differences between the two groups of data, categorical data was analyzed by chi-square and continuous data was analyzed by independent t-test and VAS score was analyzed by Mann-Whitney test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as a statistically significant difference. Results: The result of the study showed that age and gender did not have statistically significant differences in both groups of patients. In the group that received the tracheostomy tie, the tracheostomy tube displacement was more frequent, and there was more dirt and moisture around the tracheostomy tie than in the group that received an innovative tracheostomy tie with a suction tube. This was statistically significant. Patients and caring nurses were statistically significantly more satisfied using the innovative tracheostomy tie made by a suction tube. Conclusion: A suction tube is an ideal alternative material for personal care, reducing superficial injury of the skin and reducing the risk of accidental decannulation. The tracheostomy tie made of a suction tube is considered an alternative use. Keywords: Tracheostomy tie; Tracheostomy tube; Suction tube; Cotton tape

Necrophagous flies as bioindicators in Cd and Zn co-contaminated areas of Tak Province, Thailand

Necrophagous flies may be effective bioindicators of chemical substances within polluted locations, as they are sensitive to environmental changes, have large populations, and thrive in a single location over their lifespan. Diversity and abundance of necrophagous flies were determined at livestock farms contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Tak Province and Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. Substantial soil zinc (Zn) concentrations (> 1100 mg kg−1) were detected at a cattle farm at Khaothong, Nakhon Sawan Province, and soil cadmium (Cd) values were significantly elevated (> 3 mg kg−1) at a cattle farm in Pha De, Tak Province. Anthropogenic inputs including Zn mining, domestic wastewater, and certain materials used in local agriculture were point sources of PTEs at the livestock farms in the Pha De and Khaothong subdistricts. Lower temperatures and humidity during the rainy season may have resulted in increased numbers of necrophagous flies, which was 1.5 times greater compared to the dry season. However, the dry season exhibited a higher PTE buildup in fly tissue. The order of important value index (IVI) values of the necrophagous flies were: Chrysomya megacephala (56.80), Musca domestica (27.21), C. rufifacies (25.40) and Sarcophaga spp. (17.54), respectively. These necrophagous flies may play a significant role in PTE-contaminated ecosystems based on their high IVI values, suggesting that they could be used as bioindicators of PTEs. Principal component analysis (PCA) results for necrophagous flies associated with each sampling site during the dry season were consistent with flies having substantial IVI values. Musca domestica and C. megacephala of both sexes displayed substantial correlations with Cr, Al, and Mn, while females of Sarcophaga spp. displayed strong associations with Cd. At the cattle farm in Khaothong, males of M. domestica showed a significant relationship with Zn, Cu, Pb, and Ni. When considering PTE accumulation capacity in flies commonly found at field sites, C. megacephala and M. domestica are the most suitable bioindicators of PTEs. This study confirms that necrophagous flies serve as reliable bioindicators of PTE pollution.

Teaching Thai Language Literacy: Proposed of Using Speech Recognition Technology Techniques to Detect Read Aloud in Thai Tonal Conjugation for Primary Education Students

This academic article has objectives were 1) to study the techniques in data analyzing of speech recognition systems techniques to detect reading aloud skills in Thai tonal conjugation for Primary Education Students, and 2) to study the effect of speech recognition systems techniques to detect reading aloud skills in Thai tonal conjugation for Primary Education Students. Sample group in this research were 30 Primary Education Students in Grades 4 – 6 of Wat Na Klang School in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. Research tools was speech recognition systems techniques to detect reading aloud skills in Thai tonal conjugation.Results showed that,1) the three techniques involved in sound analysis consisted of Spectrogram Sound Wave Change Techniques, Wavelet Transform Audio Format Conversion Techniques, and two sets of data similarity comparison techniques named Dynamic Time Warping (DTW). The researchers used three techniques in analysis and comparison for making the more similar to the sound signal than using a single technique to analyze. 2) the effect of using speech recognition system to detect reading aloud skills in Thai tonal conjugation showed results of pronunciation practice and compared the similarity of audio signals that after using the technique in 5 analytical times, the largest average result was 93.52 Percent, the least average result was 87.75 Percent, and the total average result was 90.66 Percent.

Air, Dermal, and Urinary Metabolite Levels of Backpack and Tractor Sprayers Using the Herbicide Acetochlor in Thailand.

Acetochlor is a chloroacetanilide selective pre-emergent herbicide used for controlling grass and broadleaf weeds in crops. This study compared the acetochlor exposures of backpack and tractor sprayers and assessed whether dermal or air exposures were more important contributors to the overall body burden as measured by urinary metabolites. Sixty sugarcane farmers in Nakhonsawan province, Thailand participated in the study, and breathing zone air and dermal patch samples were collected during spraying. Urine samples were collected before spraying, at the end of the spraying task, and on the day after spraying. For backpack and tractor sprayers, there was no significant difference in their breathing zone air concentrations, total body dermal samples, or urinary 2-methy-6-methyaniline (EMA) concentrations on the day after spraying. In addition, although most backpack and tractor sprayers wore long pants and long sleeve shirts, they were still exposed to acetochlor, as evidenced by a significant increase in the urinary EMA from before spraying (GM = 11.5 µg/g creatinine) to after spraying (GM = 88.5 µg/g creatinine) to the next day (GM = 111.0 µg/g creatinine). Breathing zone air samples were significantly correlated with those of total body dermal patch samples and with urinary EMA concentrations after spraying. This suggests that both air and dermal exposure contribute to urinary EMA levels.

Application of Salicylic Acid and Gibberellic Acid Increase Stem Cutting Growth of Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mahasarakham and Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum americanum

The Napier grass continues to be a popular forage crop in Nakhonsawan Province and other areas in the northern and east-northern parts of Thailand. Increasing the growth and biomass of Napier grass growing in low-quality sandy soil will increase the economic value of this plant. The stem cutting of two cultivars of Napier grass, cv. Pakchong 1 (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum americanum) and sweet grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mahasarakham), were exposed to two plant growth regulators, gibberellic acid and salicylic acid, and two application methods, soaking for 24 hr and watering after inoculation into the soil, were studied. For one plant growth regulator test, the most appropriate concentration of gibberellic acid and salicylic acid were 0.01 and 100 mg/L, respectively, for the soaking and watering method. There was an interaction between the combination of plant growth regulator type and application method for both cultivars. The best stimulation effect for sweet grass was soaking with 100 mg/L salicylic acids only. The response of Napier grass cv. Pakchong 1 was different. Soaking with 0.01 mg/L gibberellic acid and watering with 0.01 mg/L gibberellic acid was suitable for increasing shoot and root length while soaking with 0.01 mg/L gibberellic acid and watering with 100 mg/L salicylic acid was suitable for increasing fresh and dry weight. This information will be useful for stimulating the growth of Napier grass in agricultural purposes.

Love or conflict: A qualitative study of the human-long tailed macaque interface in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand

A wide range of zoonotic pathogens can be transmitted during human-wildlife interactions. Few qualitative studies have been conducted on human-nonhuman primate interfaces in Thailand, notably direct and indirect contact. Since Long-tailed macaques (LTMs) are prevalent in Thailand's Banphot Phisai district, part of Nakhon Sawan province, this qualitative study was conducted in 2019 to determine in-depth contact characteristics between humans and LTMs in the communities. Key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 35 villagers who reported close contact with LTMs in this study location.The results showed that villagers had different levels of contact with LTMs, depending on their occupations, perceptions, beliefs, religions, previous experiences, and local regulations. Monks in temples and vendors selling food for LTMs were reported to have the closest contact with them. LTMs have been reported to destroy personal property, houses, buildings, and crops. However, the villagers do not hurt them due to their religious beliefs relating to a respected abbot (a man who headed an abbey of monks). Even community members have had extensive interaction with LTMs, but they lacked awareness and information regarding diseases transmitted to humans directly or indirectly by non-human primates. Therefore, individuals who have frequent and close contact with LTMs should be provided health education, and appropriate behavioral change communication interventions should be performed. Furthermore, the results could be used to develop future disease prevention strategies and public awareness campaigns in the area.

Confidence and trust in online shopping decisions of agriculture product for elderly people in Thailand

The purpose of this research was to explore the confidence and trust affecting online shopping decisions of agriculture product for elderly people in Thailand. This research is a quantitative study in which data were collected from questionnaires given to respondents, who were 378 elderly people aged 51-65 years, living in Muang District, Nakhon Sawan Province. The data were then analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis. The results showed that confidence and trust had a statistically significant effect on the elderly's online shopping decisions. Trust was found to be the most influential factor, followed by the elderly’s confidence in making online shopping decisions.

An Approach to Flood Hazard Mapping for the Chao Phraya River Basin Using Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation Model

Flooding is a major natural hazard that can cause significant damage to socioeconomic and ecological systems. This study presents an approach to producing the maximum flood inundation and flood duration maps over the Chao Phraya River Basin (CPRB), Thailand. An integrated numerical model and spatial analysis tool were utilized in this study. The Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (RRI) model was first used to simulate both river discharge and inundation depth. Then, the maximum flood inundation and flood duration maps with different return periods were estimated using a Geographical Information System (GIS) tool. The results illustrate that the flood inundation areas were spread out, starting from Nakhon Sawan Province, which is located in the central part of the basin. The maximum flood inundation depth could reach up to approximately 7.71, 8.28, and 8.78 m for the flood return periods of 50, 100, and 200 years, respectively. The results also indicate that the inundation areas over the CPRB could cover approximately 21,837, 23,392, and 24,533 km2 for flood return periods of 50, 100, and 200 years, respectively. The longest flood durations for return periods of 50, 100, and 200 years were approximately 159, 177, and 198 days, respectively. The longest flood duration occurred in the vicinity of the Nakhon Sawan. This study suggests that flood inundation areas and duration mapping could provide supporting information regarding the impacts caused by varying degrees of flood hazards and can be used to enhance comprehensive disaster risk management planning.

Two new species of Kaempferia subgenus Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae: Zingibereae) from Thailand

Abstract. Saensouk P, Saensouk S, Boonma T. 2022. Two new species of Kaempferia subgenus Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae: Zingibereae) from Thailand. Biodiversitas 23: 4343-4354. Two new species of Kaempferia L., namely Kaempferia napavarniae Saensouk, P. Saensouk & Boonma, and Kaempferia sakonensis Saensouk, P. Saensouk & Boonma, are discribed here. The production of terminal inflorescences, covered by leaf sheaths, makes both species fall into the subgenus Kaempferia. The first species were found only in Nakhon Sawan Province, Northern Thailand, and the second species were found only in Sakon Nakhon Province, Northeastern Thailand. Living specimens and spirit specimens of both new species were compared to the existing allied species, but they differed and were never reported in taxonomic treatment before. Thus, we claimed both of them as new species to science and named the first species to honor Associate Professor Dr. Napavarn Noparatnaraporn (Director of Center for Research-driven in Natural Resources and Environment towards Utilization) who is a specialist in Biodiversity in Thailand. And named the second species according to its locality by using the province name as the epithet name. The descriptions with their illustrations, ecology, etymology, distributions, and a revised key to species of Kaempferia subgenus Kaempferia in Thailand for facilitating identification are also prepared.

Association between pesticide exposure and obesity: A cross-sectional study of 20,295 farmers in Thailand.

Background: Obesity isaseriousconditionbecause it is associated with other chronic diseaseswhichaffect the quality of life. In addition to problems associated with diet and exercise, recent research has foundthatpesticide exposure might be another important risk factor.The objective of this study was to determine the association between pesticide exposure and obesityamong farmers in Nakhon Sawan andPhitsanulokprovince, Thailand. Methods: This study was a population-based cross-sectional study. Data on pesticide use and obesity prevalence from 20,295 farmers aged 20 yearsandolder were collected usingan in-person interviewquestionnaire. The associationwas analysed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for its potential confounding factors. Results:Obesity was found to be associated with pesticide use in the past. The risk of obesity was significantly predicted by types of pesticides, including insecticides(OR=2.10, 95% CI 1.00-4.38), herbicides (OR=4.56, 95% CI 1.11-18.62), fungicides (OR=2.12, 95% CI 1.34-3.36), rodenticides (OR=2.55, 95% CI 1.61-4.05),and molluscicides(OR=3.40, 95% CI 2.15-5.40).Among 35 surveyed individual pesticides, 22 were significantly associated with higher obesity prevalence (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.10-2.88 to OR = 8.30, 95% CI 2.54-27.19),including herbicide butachlor, 15 insecticides (two carbamate insecticides,fiveorganochlorine insecticides, and eight organophosphate insecticides), andsixfungicides. Conclusion:This study found obesity in farmers in Nakhon Sawan andPhitsanulokprovince,Thailand,to be associated withthelong-termuse of several types of pesticides. The issue should receive more public attention, and pesticide use should be strictly controlled.

Cross-sectional risk assessment of zoonotic Streptococcus suis in pork and swine blood in Nakhon Sawan Province in northern Thailand.

A cross-sectional study evaluated the risk of zoonotic Streptococcus suis (S.suis) illness from consuming raw pork and swine blood in Nakhon Sawan Province. A four-step risk assessment recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission was used to evaluate the risk along the pork supply chain. A total of 480 pork and swine blood samples were collected from the abattoir (n=120) and retail (n=360) during December 2020 and January 2021. Streptococcus suis in samples was enumerated using a culture-based technique and then confirmed by the biochemical and molecular technique. Streptococcus suis was serotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Two positive swine blood samples were contaminated with non-zoonotic S.suis serotype 23 at retail. In the case of all negative samples, the deterministic prevalence becomes zero and then the risk could not be estimated. Otherwise, the beta probability distribution was used to describe the probabilistic prevalence, while the maximum likelihood estimator was applied to estimate the upper limit of a probability distribution of concentration. The district averages of probabilistic prevalences of zoonotic S.suis in pork products at abattoir and retail were 9.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The district averages of concentrations of zoonotic S.suis in pork and blood samples from abattoir were 6.8 × 10-3 cfu/g and 6.83 cfu/ml and in pork and blood samples from retail were 2.3 × 10-3 cfu/g and 2.30 cfu/ml, respectively. The overall annual risk estimate per 100,000 population in pork and swine blood from abattoir and retail were 9.8 × 10-11 , 2.2 × 10-6 , 5.4 × 10-13 , and 8.3 × 10-8 . These risk estimates were negligible (<10-6 ) except for the annual risk estimate in swine blood from the abattoir. The results from this cross-sectional risk assessment should prompt the food safety regulator to cautiously sample by taking into account the duration of sampling and sample size.

Rodent-Human Interface: Behavioral Risk Factors and Leptospirosis in a Province in the Central Region of Thailand.

This sequential explanatory mixed-method study consisted of analytical, cross-sectional, and qualitative studies. The research was conducted in the Khao Nor and Khao Kaew areas of the Banphot Pisai districts of Nakhon Sawan Province in 2019. Here, we examined the rodent contact characteristics of villagers in these areas and determined the potential characteristics/risk factors associated with rodents using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interview (KII), and focus group discussion (FGD). Results of the quantitative study (N1 = 372) characterized participants that contacted rodents per gender, age, occupation, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), including their cultural contexts, and beliefs. Ninety participants (24.2%) reported contact with rodents, and the reasons for their direct physical rodent contact were hunting (35, 9.4%), killing (41, 11.0%), preparing rodents as food (33, 8.9%), consuming cooked meats (12, 3.2%), feeding food (4, 1.1%), cleaning feces (17, 4.6%), and cleaning carcasses (33, 8.9%). Moreover, logistic regression results showed that males encountering rodents were statistically significant (Adjusted OR = 3.137, 95% CI 1.914–5.139, p < 0.001). Low monthly household income (<THB 15,000 or <USD 450) was also negatively statistically significant with encountering rodents (Adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.99, p = 0.04). Additionally, the villagers had a low level of knowledge toward zoonotic diseases and inappropriate attitudes and practices toward contacting rodents and zoonotic diseases. Thirty-five qualitative study participants (N2) participated in the KIIs and FGDs. Various rodent contact activities were also reported among the qualitative research participants, such as hunting, consumption, and selling them to their friends and neighbors. However, these rodents also destroyed their belongings, crops, and plants. Some participants also reported that rodents accounted for leptospirosis transmission. As a result, communication intervention should be planned to provide appropriate knowledge and attitude to the villagers, especially among those who have close contact with rodents in the understudied area.

Association between pesticide exposure and obesity: A cross-sectional study of 20,295 farmers in Thailand.

Background: Obesity isaseriousconditionbecause it is associated with other chronic diseaseswhichaffect the quality of life. In addition to problems associated with diet and exercise, recent research has foundthatpesticide exposure might be another important risk factor.The objective of this study was to determine the association between pesticide exposure and obesityamong farmers in Nakhon Sawan andPhitsanulokprovince, Thailand. Methods: This study was a population-based cross-sectional study. Data on pesticide use and obesity prevalence from 20,295 farmers aged 20 yearsandolder were collected usingan in-person interviewquestionnaire. The associationwas analysed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for its potential confounding factors. Results:Obesity was found to be associated with pesticide use in the past. The risk of obesity was significantly predicted by types of pesticides, including insecticides(OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.09-4.74), herbicides (OR=4.72, 95% CI 1.16-19.29), fungicides (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.37-3.44), rodenticides (OR=2.52, 95% CI 1.59-3.99),and molluscicides(OR=3.37, 95% CI 2.13-5.31).Among 35 surveyed individual pesticides, 24 were significantly associated with higher obesity prevalence (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.00-3.06 to OR = 8.37, 95% CI 3.97-17.64),including herbicide butachlor, 17 insecticides (threecarbamate insecticides,fiveorganochlorine insecticides, andnineorganophosphate insecticides), andsixfungicides. Conclusion:This study found obesity in farmers in Nakhon Sawan andPhitsanulokprovince,Thailand,to be associated withthelong-termuse of several types of pesticides. The issue should receive more public attention, and pesticide use should be strictly controlled.

Association between pesticide exposure and obesity: A cross-sectional study of 20,295 farmers in Thailand

Background: Obesity is a serious condition because it is associated with other chronic diseases which affect the quality of life. In addition to problems associated with diet and exercise, recent research has found that pesticide exposure might be another important risk factor. The objective of this study was to determine the association between pesticide exposure and obesity among farmers in Nakhon Sawan and Phitsanulok province, Thailand. Methods: This study was a population-based cross-sectional study. Data on pesticide use and obesity prevalence from 20,295 farmers aged 20 years and older were collected using an in-person interview questionnaire. The association was analysed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for its potential confounding factors. Results: Obesity was found to be associated with pesticide use in the past. The risk of obesity was significantly predicted by types of pesticides, including insecticides (OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.00-4.38), herbicides (OR = 4.56, 95% CI 1.11-18.62), fungicides (OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.34-3.36), rodenticides (OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.61-4.05), and molluscicides (OR = 3.40, 95% CI 2.15-5.40). Among 35 surveyed individual pesticides, 22 were significantly associated with higher obesity prevalence (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.10-2.88 to OR = 8.30, 95% CI 2.54-27.19), including herbicide butachlor, 15 insecticides (two carbamate insecticides, five organochlorine insecticides, and eight organophosphate insecticides), and six fungicides. Conclusion: This study found obesity in farmers in Nakhon Sawan and Phitsanulok province, Thailand, to be associated with the long-term use of several types of pesticides. The issue should receive more public attention, and pesticide use should be strictly controlled.

A confirmatory factor model analysis of self acceptance of the elderly in Chumtabong district Nakhonsawan province

A confirmatory factor model analysis of self acceptance of the elderly in Chumtabong district Nakhonsawan province

Factors Influencing Practice of Pesticide Use and Acute Health Symptoms among Farmers in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.

Information on knowledge (K), attitude (A), and practice (P) in terms of pesticide use is essential for an effective exposure control program. The objectives of this study were to survey the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in terms of pesticide use, and the prevalence of acute health symptoms (AHSs) among farmers in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. The study also tried to identify factors affecting the practice of pesticide use. Data from 680 farmers were collected using a face-to-face interview questionnaire. The relationship between safety practices and related factors was analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. This study found about 40% of the farmers had a good level of practice. Factors affecting practice were education, work experience, level of knowledge, or attitudes. Many participants experienced acute health symptoms in the past 24 h, and these symptoms were significantly associated with poor practice (p < 0.05). Public health organizations should provide farmers with more information, especially on chronic effects of pesticides.