Health Behavior, Level of Hemoglobin A1c, and Quality of Life Among Agricultural Workers of Various Ethnicities in Thai Border Communities

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and quality of life (QoL) in ethnic minority agricultural workers. We investigated the links among health behaviors, HbA1c levels, and QoL ethnic agricultural workers living in rural areas.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in three northern Provinces of Thailand. Agricultural workers of Indigenous, Hmong, Karen, and Lua communities were recruited. The number of 468 samples were selected using multistage sampling. Data collection was done from interviews using questionnaires, and blood samples were taken.ResultsWe revealed 56.8% of participants to be female, with an average age of 49.6 years. Also, 56.0 and 34.8% of participants had low and moderate levels of knowledge on non-communicable diseases, respectively. In addition, 56.8 and 30.6% of participants had moderate and low health behaviors, respectively. Also, 51.5% had a HbA1c level (≥6.5%). We found that 64.7, 22.9, and 12.4% had moderate, low, and high QoL, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that having an underlying disease and knowledge score were both significantly related to the health behaviors score (p < 0.05), accounting for 68.6% of the variance. Five variables (ethnicity, BMI, having an underlying disease, smoking, and health behaviors) were significantly related to the HbA1c level (p < 0.05), accounting for 24.6% of the variance. Education, health behaviors, and HbA1c level were significantly associated with QoL (p < 0.05). These three factors could explain 79.4% of the variance in QoL among ethnic agricultural workers.ConclusionHealth behaviors of ethnic minority agricultural workers influenced their HbA1c level and QoL. Effective health behaviors modification programs should be developed in accordance with the problems and needs among ethnic minority agricultural workers to enhance their QoL.

Health Literacy, Self-Care Behaviors, and Biochemical Parameters Among Hypertensive Patients with Renal Complications in the Tai Lue Ethnic Community of Thailand

“…The participants had poor food consumption behaviors, which can be explained by the uniqueness of the Tai Lue community in term of indigenous food, a traditional way of life, and culture; they lack awareness to make the right food choices, resulting in poor dietary and health behaviors. 11 Similar to a study among ethnic northern Thais, the study participants mostly had moderate and low SCB scores; increased BMI was significantly associated with SCB and affected FBS. 29 This study's results are similar to those of research in India that reported that 62.9% of respondents' SCB level were unfavorable, influenced by negative perceptions of health status (odds ratio = −2.8).…”

“…Minority groups have traditional SCB, including using local herbs, performing rituals, and ways of daily cooking. 11 Phayao Province is in the top 10 provinces in terms of deaths from HT, reporting a rate of 18.21-24.05 per 100,000 people. 12 HT was found to be very high among the Tai Lue ethnic group, especially in people aged 60 years and over (45.48%); 53.37% were patients with CKD stages 1-3 complications, more than other ethnic groups.…”

The relationship between health behaviors and quality of life: the mediating roles of activities of daily living and psychological distress

“…Surprisingly, health behaviors did not have a significant direct effect on the QOL of older adults in the present study model, while some Japanese and Singaporean scholars have reported negative associations between physical inactivity, work-related physical activity, and sedentary behavior and the QOL of older adults ( 52 , 53 ). In addition, some Thai scholars have shown that unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drinking not only directly affect the QOL of the older adult, but also indirectly intervene through chronic diseases ( 54 ). The results of this study also suggest that healthy behaviors have a significant direct effect on ADL performance and psychological distress.…”