Factors predicting pulmonary function among residents in stone mining area Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Exposure to dust produced by quarrying activities can be detrimental to the health of people living stone mining area. The purpose of this study were to examine factors that may be related to lung function and to study the predicting factors of lung function among people living in stone mining area in Chiang Mai. The sample consisted of 160 people living sin tone mining area between November and December year 2020 . The instrument used was a questionnaire consisting of 5 parts: demographics, environmental information, knowledge, attitude, dust prevention behavior that had been verified for content validity and reliability. The data was statistically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed that most of subjects were female (68.1%), which, had aver age at 53.49 years. Most of them were farmers (50.6%) and had primary education (64.4%). The respondents had knowledge at moderate level with an average score of 10.63 points (SD = 1.86 , Min = 1, Max = 13). attitude at high level with an average score of 37.81 (SD = 3.69 , Min = 25, Max = 45). and behavior at low level with an average score of 23.11 points (SD = 4.35 , Min = 11, Max = 30). The study of predicting factors of lung function of people living around the quarry, showed that the distance from home to mining area can predict pulmonary fitness, FVC/ FEV1 of the people living in mining area at 3.50% with statistical significance (P<0.05). Therefore, relevant agencies and organizations including sub-district health promotion hospitals and municipalities should promote behaviors to prevent dust exposure, such as wearing masks for preventing silicosis and supporting dust prevention strategies for households located in mining area.

Keywords: predictive factor, lung function, knowledge, attitude, protective behavior, dust, quarry