Health Examination Participation Rate and Disease Prevalence of Farmers: Using National Health Insurance Service Data

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to identify the major diseases among farmers through disease prevalence and proposes the necessity of essential disease management services tailored to the occupational characteristics prevalent among farmers.Methods: Using data from National Health Insurance Services (NHIS), individuals who were eligible for agricultural insurance premium reduction benefits were identified, and individuals meeting these criteria and those who did not were sampled in a 1:1 ratio. Subjects were defined as farmers and non-farmers by categorizing individuals who were classified as farmers for two consecutive years, 2018 and 2019, and those who were not. Age-standardized disease prevalence rates for 21 major disease categories were examined among farmers and non-farmers, and health examination participation rates were compared.Results: Farmers exhibited higher disease prevalence in categories such as ‘External causes of morbidity and mortality’, ‘Codes for special purposes’, and ‘Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes’. Particularly in ‘External causes of morbidity and mortality’ and ‘Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes’ the differences between farmers and non-farmers were significantly pronounced. Additionally, the health examination participation rate among the farmers was notably lower compared to the general population.Conclusions: To enhance the health status of farmers, a multifaceted approach and policy support must be established to ensure that universal healthcare does not exclude them due to regional characteristics. The study anticipates that its findings will be foundational for expanding the pilot project targeting female farmers’ special health examinations, eventually encompassing all farmers.