Accident and Disease Related to Agriculture in a Rural Korea

일부 농민들의 농업관련 질환 및 사고

This paper is conducted to find out the current status of farmers's syndrome and injuries due to agricultural machines and pesticides by questionnaire during 4 days from July 31 to August 2, 1996. The subjects were 706 people, 332 of men and 384 of women those who live in a rural area in Yungduk-gun, Kyungsangbuk-do, Korea. The results obtained are as follow. 1. The rate of farmer's syndrome like that shoulder pain, lumbago, numbness, nocturia, dyspnea, insomnia dizziness and abdominal pain were generally higher in women than men except shoulder pain. Of them, lumbago was highest, 61.2% in men, and 78.1% in women respectively. It was higher in rate and older in age. 2. In the score of farmer's syndrome classified by Kumagai(1943) in Japan, the suspected cases with three points over 60.6% in men and 81.8% in women. 3. The prevalence of injuries by agricultural machine was 31.2% for a year from August 1995 to July 1996. The cumulative rate was 6.66%(11.8% in men and 2.34% in women) with previous cases from the before years. The major sites of injuries were arm, leg and chest in order. Among the injuries cases, 55.32% had been physical impediment. 4. The experience rate of intoxication by pesticides was 24.9% to total subjects. And dermatologic sign was 7.0%. Experience of treatment with only one time was 60.0%, and that with five times over, 20.0% Of them 18 cases had been administered in hospital.