Journal of Agromedicine最新文献

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine if workers occupationally exposed (WOE) to sheep, specifically shepherds and cheesemakers in central Portugal, are more likely to be seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG compared to the general population. Additionally, the study aimed to explore potential differences in seropositivity between shepherds and cheesemakers, while evaluating age, gender, and activity as possible risk factors for T. gondii infection.

Methods: A total of 96 WOE, including 21 shepherds and 75 cheesemakers, were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The control group consisted of 192 sera samples from blood donors matched by age, gender, and residence. Chi-square tests with Yates correction were used to compare seroprevalence between WOE and the general population, and between shepherds and cheesemakers. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate potential associations between T. gondii seropositivity and factors such as activity, gender, and age.

Results: The overall seroprevalence was 63.5% in the WOE and 52.6% in the general population, with no statistically significant difference (p = .101). Among WOE, 52.4% of shepherds and 66.7% of cheesemakers were seropositive, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = .344). Univariate and multivariable analyses indicated neither activity, age, nor gender were significant risk factors for seropositivity in the case population.

Conclusion: The study did not find a significant increased risk of T. gondii seropositivity among shepherds and cheesemakers compared to the general population. While high seroprevalence was observed in both groups, other factors unrelated to occupational exposure may be influencing the risk of T. gondii infection. More research is needed, particularly focusing on cheesemakers, to further explore potential occupational health risks related to T. gondii.

Objective: Fatalities continue to plague the US commercial fishing industry and have broad impacts on coastal communities and families. The success of the Lifejackets for Lobstermen program in the US Northeast led to the development of a Pacific Northwest regional Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program (FLIPP) for Lifejackets. To be effective in a different region with distinct fisheries, adaptations must be based on regional community input. The goal of this research was to collect and apply the perspectives of commercial fishermen and community partners to improve vessel safety and in particular, lifejacket use, to guide the development of the FLIPP for Lifejackets program.

Methods: Four approaches were used in Washington and Oregon: (1) structured interviews with commercial fishing community partners, (2) surveys with fishermen, (3) lifejacket ranking by fishermen, and (4) brief surveys of regional fish observers.

Results: Commercial fishing community partners (n = 54) confirmed that: a variety of brands/designs with good potential for commercial fishermen exist; there is interest in education around advances in materials and design; and the style depends on fishery, fishermen, and season. There is not a perfect model for all commercial fishing situations. From 98 fishermen interviewed, 15% always reported wearing a lifejacket on deck, 16% most, 40% some, and 25% none of the time. Most fishermen agreed it was important to wear a lifejacket/personal flotation device (PFD) (75%) and indicated interest in learning about new types of lifejackets (71%). Fishermen completed a ranking (n = 56), which showed the Mustang Inflatable Work Vest and Kent Rogue Work Vest stood out as the most preferred lifejackets. The majority of regional fish observers (n = 22) shared the frequency of vessels with at least one crew wearing a lifejacket was below 50%. Most reported fishermen's use of lifejackets was situational and agreed that attitudes regarding lifejacket use among fishermen had become more positive since they began observing.

Conclusion: Conversations and connections established through our efforts created collaborative opportunities and directly informed the design of the FLIPP for Lifejackets Program. These approaches can be used in other regions to establish commercial fishing as a safer industry.

Objectives: Agriculture employs about a third of the world's workforce and has been identified as having a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs); however, little is known about specific agricultural sectors, particularly apiculture (commercial beekeeping). This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey investigating the prevalence of MSDs among apiarists (commercial beekeepers) in New Zealand. A further objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of MSDs on apiarists.

Methods: Apiarists in New Zealand were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire to assess a 12-month and 7-day prevalence of MSDs using a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Supplementary questions assessed frequency of MSD, the discomfort severity, and limitations with work. In addition, open-ended questions invited apiarists to suggest what they believed contributed to their MSD. We categorized the responses into five key WRMSD risk factors (Physical/Biomechanical; Work Organizational; Individual; Environmental; Psychosocial).

Results: Results from a sample of 73 apiarists showed the overall 12-month prevalence of any MSD to be 89% (95%CI = 79.6-94.6), with a 7-day prevalence of 68.5% (95%CI = 57.1-78.0). The most frequently reported body parts affected were low back (74%), neck (54.8%), wrist/hands (47.9%), and shoulders (56.2%). Despite the relatively high prevalence and discomfort levels of MSDs, apiarists reported minimal limitations to work which may reflect the attitude that MSDs are an accepted part of their role. Physical demands of the beekeeping role were reported by most apiarists as contributing to MSDs, with individual factors such as age being the second most cited contributor. Only 3% of the responses identified psychosocial factors associated with MSDs.

Conclusions: High prevalence of MSDs among this sample of apiarists is similar to previous reports of MSD prevalence among non-commercial beekeepers in other overseas studies. Results indicate musculoskeletal discomfort among apiarists is commonplace and suggest apiarists are likely to be working while experiencing discomfort. This potentially could have long-term ramifications for apiarists' musculoskeletal health. This is a concern for sustainability of this essential industry.

Introduction: Agricultural producers in the United States experience chronic economic volatility that may place them at elevated risk for mental health challenges and disrupted family functioning. Guided by the Family Stress Model (FSM), this study examined associations between economic hardship, mental health, and parenting style among U.S. farm parents.

Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021 and 2022 with 298 farm adults across multiple states. The survey included validated measures of financial strain, symptoms of depression and anxiety (PHQ-9, GAD-7), and parenting style, categorised into authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, or uninvolved.

Results: Results revealed that 40.7% of farm parents met the threshold for probable depression and 30.6% for probable anxiety - rates substantially higher than national averages. Financial indicators such as difficulty paying bills, unmet material needs, financial cutbacks, and higher debt-to-asset ratios were significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Parenting style was also related to both economic stress and emotional well-being: authoritative parents reported the lowest financial stress and mental health symptoms, while uninvolved parents reported the highest.

Conclusions: These findings are consistent with FSM pathways, which posit that economic hardship is associated with greater psychological distress and disruptions in parenting behaviors.

Purpose: Agriculture must produce more food to meet the needs of a growing global population. However, farm injuries may hinder farmers' abilities to contribute to this goal. Due to the increasing incidence of injuries in the cocoa industry, this study aimed to investigate how farm injuries impact the household welfare of cocoa farmers.

Methods: A multi-stage sampling method was employed to collect data from 400 cocoa farmers. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including means, percentages, standard deviations, frequencies and a multivariate probit (MVP).

Findings: Out of 400 respondents, cocoa farmers stated that an average of 11 people were injured per season, and this led to a loss of about 57 working days. The most common injuries were cuts, waist pains, and insect bites. Results from the MVP analysis showed that farm injuries significantly affected farmers' food security, productivity, and income.

Conclusion: The research points out that, as much as routine training is necessary, tool design, the implementation of work-rest patterns, and task change should be enhanced to reduce fatigue. Frequent utilization of personal safety gear is encouraged. The findings are significant in terms of policy and practice implications to minimize farm injuries, improve household welfare, and protect the contribution of cocoa farmers to the world food production.

Objective: Growing up on a farm presents a health paradox, with increased risks of injuries but some purported benefits. This study estimated differences in the burden of medical comorbidities between youth who live versus do not live on farms. No a priori hypotheses were tested.

Methods: A phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) was used in a cohort of youth in north-central Wisconsin. Those who lived on farms were matched (1:3) to a non-farm comparison group. Outcomes included a comprehensive set of diagnoses (Phecodes) that occurred between 2017 and 2021. PheWAS analyses included logistic regression models of Phecode associations with farm residency.

Results: There were 36 Phecodes that significantly differentiated the two groups. Youth who lived on farms had significantly higher odds of agricultural injury, dermatophytosis, spinal neuritis, and strabismus compared to non-farm youth. Remaining Phecodes indicated protection in the farm group. Notably, relative to the non-farm group, farm youth had a 20%-30% lower odds of respiratory illnesses, as well as 30%-40% lower odds of mental health and neurological conditions.

Conclusion: This was the first known study to utilize a PheWAS approach to comprehensively compare medical comorbidities in farm versus non-farm youth. Findings confirmed the known injury hazards in farm youth, but there appeared to be more health benefits of living on farms. Some of these apparent protections were novel, particularly those related to affective disorders, but require future confirmatory testing to understand how care seeking behaviors may also influence farm and non-farm households.

Purpose: This study explored commercial fishermen's perspectives and decision-making process related to investment in winch safety equipment for fishing vessels.

Methods: The study employed semi-structured interviews during 2019-2021 with commercial fishing captains, owners, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers (n = 19) from two different commercial fisheries: the Pacific Northwest purse seine fleet, and the Southern shrimp fleet. Interview recordings were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed to identify themes related to adoption of winch safety gear.

Results: Overall, perception of risk from deck winches was high in both populations. Fishermen generally regarded safety engineering interventions for winches positively, in principle. However, cost, installation complexity, and competing safety priorities are often barriers to adopting such equipment. In discussing safety-related investments, fishermen commonly prioritized maintenance of the vessel and management of the crew over mechanical safety equipment for the deck winch, despite its potential for causing injury. We identified several potential facilitators of adoption of winch safety equipment, particularly for the Southern shrimp fleet.

Conclusions: Fishermen tend to view deck winch safety as part of a larger, complex set of safety considerations encompassing the vessel and crew as a whole. This risk balancing sometimes does not favor investment in safety gear specifically for the deck winch, even if it is perceived as a primary hazard. Fundamental economic conditions in these two fisheries continue to pose a challenge to widespread adoption of winch safety equipment. Reducing cost barriers would potentially be the most effective way to increase adoption, but additional work is needed to improve risk communication, increase awareness of available winch safety equipment, and address installation complexity barriers.

Background: Farmers are disproportionately affected by suicide, which is frequently preceded by signs of poor mental health. Findings on mental health outcomes among individuals in farming occupations are mixed. This analysis of a major national dataset sought to identify the sociodemographic factors related to poor mental health days and lifetime depression diagnosis among U.S. farming-related occupations versus the general population of people employed in non-farming occupations.

Methods: Data were from 13 states providing industry and occupational data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) 2019 survey. Bivariate statistics and logistic regression investigated correlates (sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education level, and age) associated with poor mental health days in the last 30 days (14 or more days vs. 13 or fewer days) and with a depression diagnosis among farmers versus non-farmers.

Results: The analysis included 55,253 individuals, with 2,773 individuals in farming occupations. In unadjusted models, people in farming occupations were significantly more likely than those in non-farming occupations to be older, White, with lower educational attainment, and a lower prevalence of poor mental health days or depression. In adjusted models, farming and non-farming occupations had no significant difference in the odds of having poor mental health days or a depression diagnosis.

Conclusions: Sociodemographic differences between farming and non-farming occupations echoed previous findings. Being in a farming occupation was not associated with odds of poor mental health days or a depressive disorder diagnosis compared to non-farming occupations, which supports other findings from national datasets. These findings, along with statistics showing a higher rate of suicide among farmers and farmworkers, suggest that additional research is needed about factors related to farm-related occupational wellness and distress.

The effects of pesticide exposure on human health are a significant concern in the global agricultural sector. However, developed risk matrix of occupational exposure and pesticide screening have rarely been studied. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of a developed occupational risk assessment matrix. Data were collected from both an interview questionnaire and serum cholinesterase testing by using cholinesterase reactive paper. The participants were 421 pesticide sprayers in northeastern Thailand. The risk matrix (4x4) was developed by multiplying the likelihood of pesticide exposure by the severity level of adverse symptoms. The risk score was classified into acceptable and unacceptable levels of risk. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the risk matrix were assessed by using a standard 2 × 2table. Most of the sprayers were male (69%) and their ages ranged between 19 and 76 years old (mean = 53; SD = 10). Abnormal cholinesterase test results indicated an unsafe level of risk for 48% of sprayers (95% CI: 44% -53%). The risk matrix showed that the largest proportion of sprayers (42.52%, 95%CI: 38% -47%) were classified as moderate risk, followed by those at a low-to-very high risk (57%, 95% CI: 53% -62%). The risk matrix findings showed a sensitivity of 73.17% (95% CI: 69% -77%) and a specificity of 64% (95% CI: 59% -68%) for risk screening. The positive predictive value was 99% (95% CI: 98% -100%), the negative predictive value was 6% (95% CI: 4% -8%) and the accuracy was 73% (95% CI: 69% -77%). Conclusion: These pesticide sprayers represent a high-risk group, highlighting the need for effective guidance in conducting risk assessment programs for pesticide exposure. Therefore, this developed risk matrix is also valuable for health screening among pesticide applicators.

Objectives: The study aimed to develop a comprehensive and psychometrically validated subjective usability evaluation system tailored for arm- and leg-support exoskeletons used in labor-intensive agricultural tasks. Existing assessment methods often overlook user-centric factors, limiting the broader adoption of exoskeleton technologies in real-world settings.

Methods: Experiments were conducted using arm- and leg-support exoskeleton types across multiple agricultural tasks. A total of 68 participants took part in three different experimental settings. Subjective usability data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying usability dimensions. Retrospective item refinement was conducted to enhance the validity and reliability of the evaluation system.

Results: Four key usability factors were identified: effectiveness, wearability, safety, and learnability, each demonstrating high internal consistency. Based on these factors, a final 24-item usability questionnaire was developed. The system captures both practical and ergonomic considerations relevant to agricultural exoskeleton use.

Conclusion: The proposed evaluation system addresses the limitations of conventional exoskeleton assessments by incorporating subjective usability dimensions. It provides a reliable, user-centered framework that can be widely applied to improve exoskeleton design, enhance user experience, and support successful deployment in agricultural environments.