Factors Associated with Behavior Usage of Respiratory Protective Equipment among Sugarcane Factory Workers in Northeast of Thailand

Several sugar industries in Thailand are highly effected to environmental health, including a safety at work, mainly the areas surrounded of bagasse.

This research aimed to study on factors associated with behavior usage of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) among sugarcane factory workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 588 workers at 4 sugarcane factories in Northeast of Thailand, between December 2017 to April 2018. Workers were selected by multi-stage random sampling to completed structure questionnaires. The multivariable analysis was used by multiple logistic regressions.

The majority were males (71.94%). Their mean age was 38.28 (±10.56) years old. Financial status was poor (65.65%). Department were juice extraction machine (67.52%). The majority types of RPE usage were cotton masks (94.56%) and their behaviors usage of RPE had good level (64.80%, 95% CI: 60.92-68.67). Additionally, factors associated with good behavior usage of RPE were included age (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.38; p = 0.007), financial status (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.29; p = 0.021) and department of work (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.40; p = 0.017).

Almost two-third of sugarcane factory workers had good behavior usage of RPE. Work safety awareness is important to prevent and promote among sugarcane factory workers to the adaptation their working environment.