The Effects of Natural Medicine on Chemical Pesticide Use Behavior and Health Conditions of Hight-Risk Famers in Ban Naiwong, Nai Wong Nuea Subdistrict, La-un District, Ranong Province

Abstract

This research aimed to compare the behavior of pesticide use, illness, and cholinesterase enzyme levels of at-risk farmers before and after receiving the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom. Most farmers had risks from chemical use at an unsafe level, which affected the nervous system and health. The research used a mixed-method approach, being experimental research with one group pretest–posttest design combined with qualitative descriptive research. The quantitative sample consisted of 50 people, and the qualitative sample consisted of 9 people selected purposively from 3 villages. Data were collected by questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the paired t-test to compare the chemical levels in the blood before and after using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom.

The results found that:

1) Before using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom, at-risk farmers had pesticide use behavior at a moderate level of 78.0 percent, and after using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom at a good level of 64.0 percent. The mean score increased from 56.7 to 62.7 with a statistically significant difference, showing that the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom helped improve pesticide use behavior toward safer practices.

2) Before using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom, at-risk farmers had pesticide use behavior at a moderate level of 78.0 percent, and after using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom at a good level of 64.0 percent. The mean score increased from 56.7 to 62.7 with a statistically significant difference, showing that the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom helped improve pesticide use behavior toward safer practices.

3) Before using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom, most farmers had cholinesterase enzyme levels at an unsafe level of 70.0 percent, but after using the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom, most had levels at a risky level of 64.0 percent, and no group was found at the unsafe level, showing that the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom helped balance the body and reduce toxin accumulation in the blood effectively.