Work ability among older workers in an agricultural community in Nan province, Thailand: a cross-sectional study
Keywords:
Agricultural community, older worker, work abilityAbstract
Background: There is a global challenge regarding demographic change together with the aging population. Research on work ability among older workers in an agricultural area remains crucial, particularly in Thailand, an aged society country with thirty percent of its working population in the agricultural sector.
Objective: To estimate work ability among older workers in an agricultural community and to determine the relationship between work ability and its associations.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of adults aged 40 to 65 was conducted in an agricultural community in Nan province, Thailand, between May and August 2019. The study subjects consisted of 345 villagers and 82 civil servants in Tan Chum subdistrict, Nan province. All subjects completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and the work ability index (WAI). The work ability level and its associated variables were examined using descriptive and logistic regression analyses.
Results: The response rate was 93.7%. The average WAI score was 40.4 (SD = 5.4). Seventy-eight percent of the subjects had a high work ability level. The multiple logistic regression showed that the work ability level was significantly associated with age (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.84 – 0.94), abnormal body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.26 – 0.87) and education at the university level (OR = 6.49, 95% CI 1.27 - 33.17). Weekly working hours, working years, living on a farm, a longest-held job and subject recruitment were not significantly associated with the work ability level.
Conclusion: Older workers in the study agricultural community in Nan province, generally had high work ability. The high work ability was positively associated with education at the university level but was inversely associated with increasing age and abnormal BMI.
Downloads
References
Ross D. Ageing and work: an overview. Occup Med(Lond) 2010;60:169-71.
https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq029
McCarthy J, Heraty N, Cross C, Cleveland JN. Who isconsidered an 'older worker'? Extending ourconceptualisation of 'older' from an organisationaldecision maker perspective. Human Res Manage J 2014;24:374-93. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12041
Ilmarinen J. From work ability research to implementa-tion. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019;16:2882. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162882
Morschhauser M, Sochert R. Healthy work in an ageingeurope strategies and instruments for prolongingworking life. Germany: European Network forWorkplace Health Promotion; 2006.
Saarni SI, Saarni ES, Saarni H. Quality of life, workability, and self employment: a population survey ofentrepreneurs, farmers, and salary earners. OccupEnviron Med 2008;65:98-103.
https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2007.033423
Karttunen JP, Rautiainen RH. Work ability index amongfinnish dairy farmers. J Agric Saf Health 2009;15:353-64. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.28889
Ilmarinen JE. Aging workers. Occup Environ Med2001;58:546-52. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.8.546
Nirathron N, Komazawa O. Population Ageing inThailand Volume 3: Informal Workers' Preparednessfor Active Ageing Thailand: Economic ResearchInstitute for ASEAN and East Asia; 2021.
National Statistic Office. The survey results of workingpopulation in October B.E. 2563. Bangkok: Ministryof Digital Economy and Society; 2020.
The World Bank. Getting back on track: Revivinggrowth and securing prosperity for all. Thailand: WorldBank Thailand; 2016.
Labour Protection Act B.E. 2562. Royal Gazette 2019;43:21-9.
Department of Health. Nan province populationpyramid in B.E. 2562. Nonthaburi: Ministry of PublicHealth; 2020.
Department of Agriculture Extension. Nan province inB.E. 2561. Bangkok: Ministry of Digital Economy andSociety; 2018.
Israel GD. Determining sample size. Institute of foodand agricultural sciences (IFAS), University of Florida2013: PEOD-6, 1-5.
Pothirat C, Chaiwong W, Phetsuk N, PisalthanapunaS, Chetsadaphan N, Inchai J. A comparative study ofCOPD burden between urban vs rural communities innorthern Thailand. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis2015;10:1035-42. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S82303
Kaewboonchoo O, Ratanasiripong P. Psychometricproperties of the Thai version of the work ability index(Thai WAI). J Occup Health 2015;57:371-7. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.14-0173-OA
Townend J, Minelli C, Harrabi I, Obaseki DO, El-RhaziK, Patel J, et al. Development of an international scaleof socio-economic position based on householdassets. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 2015;12:13.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-015-0035-6
WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-massindex for Asian populations and its implications forpolicy and intervention strategies. Lancet 2004;363:157-63.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)15268-3
Thanapop S, Thanapop C. Work ability of Thai olderworkers in Southern Thailand: a comparison of formaland informal sectors. BMC Public Health 2021;21:1218.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10974-8
Sripharut K, Keawpan W, Kalampakorn S, Sillabutra J.Factors related to work ability among rice farmers inNakhonpathom province. J Public Health Nurs 2020;34:50-64.
Gonzales AM, Ambong RMA, Bais L, Macaspac LP.Health-related quality of life and work ability ofsmallholder rice farm workers in San Jose, OccidentalMindoro, Philippines. Makara J Health Res 2020;24:5.
Rostamabadi A, Mazloumi A, Rahimi Foroushani A.Work Ability Index (WAI) and its health-relateddeterminants among Iranian farmers working in smallfarm enterprises. J Occup Health 2014;56:478-84. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.13-0171-OA
Lertvarayut T, Arphorn S, Tangtong C, Maneerat Y,Ishimaru T. Work ability among older adult farm workersin Thailand. J Agricultural Safety Health 2022;28:109-24. https://doi.org/10.13031/jash.14886
Koolhaas W, van der Klink JJ, de Boer MR, GroothoffJW, Brouwer S. Chronic health conditions and workability in the ageing workforce: the impact of workconditions, psychosocial factors and perceived health.Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2014;87:433-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0882-9
van de Ven D, Robroek SJ, Oude Hengel KM, van ZonSK, Brouwer S, Ots P, et al. Associations of within-individual changes in working conditions, healthbehaviour and BMI with work ability and self-ratedhealth: a fixed effects analysis among Dutch workers.BMJ Open 2022;12:e058574.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058574
Bridger RS, Bennett AI. Age and BMI interact todetermine work ability in seafarers. Occup Med (Lond)2011;61:157-62. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqr003
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Chulalongkorn Medical Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
