Factors Associated with Hepatobiliary Disease among Farmers in Northeastern Thailand
Keywords:
Pesticide, Farmer, Hepatobiliary diseaseAbstract
A case-control study was conducted to investigate the role of pesticide exposure in the development of hepatobiliary diseases among farmers in northeastern Thailand during the period 2016–2021. Participants were categorized based on ultrasound findings into two groups: cases (n=262), who were diagnosed with hepatobiliary disease, and controls (n=271), who were not diagnosed with such conditions. Secondary data were obtained from the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP) and farmers health surveillance records from the Occupational Disease Surveillance Project, which covered the same region. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence, and inferential statistics, including the Chi-square test, were used to analyze associations at a significance level of 0.05. The results revealed a spatial distribution of abnormal serum cholinesterase levels and hepatobiliary diseases, with Kalasin province showing the highest prevalence (18.57% and 19.14%, respectively). Significant differences were observed between the case and control groups among farmers who were under fifty years of age, Opisthorchis viverrini infection, treatment history for O. viverrini, agricultural practices, patterns of pesticide use, and serum cholinesterase levels. These findings suggest for further investigation of risk factors and its association with pesticide exposure for health surveillance among pesticide-using farmers and for formulating suitable area-specific preventive strategies against pesticide-related risks.
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