Health awareness promotion among farming communities are important for a sustainable agriculture activities. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess health status among farming communities in Cameron Highlands, Pahang (n = 61) and Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (n = 143). Mobile Health Screening Programme composed of assessment of blood glucose, blood cholesterol, haemoglobin, blood pressure, pterygium, lung function and nerve conductive velocity was utilized. Our results indicate that the percentage of Cameron Highland’s farmers with hyperglycaemia, systolic hypertension, diastolic hypertension and anaemia were 8.2%, 14.8%, 11.5% and 8.2%, respectively. However, higher percentage of farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan with hyperglycaemia (32.8%), hypercholesterolaemia (83%), anaemia (24.2%) and systolic hypertension (41.9%) were observed. Pterygium was positive for 88.6% of farmers in Cameron Highlands and 94.4% in Bachok and Pasir Puteh. Lung function test shows that 61.7% and 11.4% of farmers in Cameron Highlands had restrictive and obstructive lung, respectively. In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, a total of 19.8%, 55.5% and 23.9% of farmers were found to have obstructive, restrictive and combined obstructive and restrictive lung, respectively. Current Perception Threshold (CPT) value which indicate nerve conductive velocity were significantly increased (p < 0.05) among Cameron Highland’s farmers for both median and peroneal nerve at all frequencies (5 Hz, 250 Hz and 2000 Hz). In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, the values of the CPT for median nerve was significantly increased (p < 0.05) for all frequencies (5, 250 and 2000 Hz). Meanwhile, a signifi cant increased (p < 0.05) was observed for the CPT values for peroneal nerve at the frequencies of 250 and 2000 Hz as compared to control groups. In conclusion, analysis revealed different health problem among the studied farming communities which could be influenced by the differences in farming practices. Thus, employed Mobile Health Screening Programme offers a monitoring approach that could highlight the need for suitable health services and awareness programmes for different farming communities.
Kromium merupakan mineral yang penting dan kofaktor insulin yang memainkan peranan penting sebagai hormon yang membantu dalam regulasi gula dalam darah. Penduduk Kelantan sering dikaitkan dengan pengambilan makanan berasaskan gula. Petani merupakan golongan yang berisiko tinggi kerana pendedahan terhadap pestisid dan pengambilan makanan bergula boleh mempengaruhi paras kromium. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengetahui status paras kromium dalam kalangan petani yang terdedah kepada pestisid dan baja kimia di Kelantan. Kajian ini adalah kajian keratan rentas yang dilakukan di Bachok dan Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. Responden adalah seramai 113 petani yang terdedah kepada pestisid atau baja kimia tidak kurang daripada satu tahun. Subjek ditemu bual menggunakan soal selidik pengetahuan, sikap dan amalan (KAP) yang telah divalidasi untuk informasi berkaitan data demografi k. Sampel kuku dan rambut telah dianalisia dengan menggunakan kaedah pencernaan asid dan Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICPMS) untuk mendapatkan paras kromium. Hasil kajian menunjukkan 81.4% adalah petani lelaki dan 18.6% adalah perempuan. Paras kromium kuku (125.82 ± 47.81 μg/L) dan rambut (39.63 ± 5.70 μg/L) petani adalah lebih rendah berbanding julat piawai kuku (6200 μg/L) dan rambut (100-2500 μg/L). Tiada perbezaan paras kromium yang signifi kan (p > 0.05) menurut jantina, umur, glukosa darah, tempoh pendedahan pestisid dan pemakanan. Petani yang merokok menunjukkan paras kromium yang lebih rendah (p < 0.05) berbanding petani yang tidak merokok. Kesimpulannya, paras unsur kromium petani di Bachok dan Pasir Puteh adalah rendah berbanding julat normal dan petani harus berhenti merokok kerana merokok akan merendahkan paras kromium.
Pesticide exposure may cause genotoxic effects by inducing the formation of micronucleus (Mn). Mn are fragments of chromosomes that remains after cells division. The increase in Mn may increase the risk of cancer formation. Our study aimed to determine the effects of lifestyle and pesticide exposure on the formation of Mn in epithelial cells from buccal swabs among paddy farmers in Malaysia. About 40 farmers who were exposed to pesticides were chosen as subjects and 30 personnels whose not directly exposed to pesticides, were chosen as the control group. Demographic and anthropometric data were obtained from questionnaires developed. Analysis of Mn formation was done using Giemsa staining (10% v/v) and the frequency of Mn formation was scored from 1000 cells per sample. Kruskal-Wallis test done between Mn frequency with age group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Mn frequency in farmers as compared to the control in the age group of 30-39 , 40-49 years, and 50-59 years. Significant increased (p < 0.05) were observed between Mn frequency groups of normal BMI, pre-obese, and grade 1 obese as compared to control. Significant increase of Mn frequency (p < 0.01) was also seen among smokers and farmer’s group (15.39 ± 3.34) as compared to controls (4.76 ± 1.26). The maximum numbers of Mn found in farmers are 7 Mn per cell whereas for control group is only 3 Mn. However, most farmers had only 1 Mn (81.75 ± 6.42%) and 2 Mn (15.28 ± 5.14%). Mn frequency with the duration of exposure to pesticides in a month and the use of PPE revealed no significant difference (p = 0.27). In conclusion, the increased frequency of Mn was influenced by age, gender, BMI and smoking status of farmers besides commonly repeated duration of exposures and the use of PPE. Further studies are needed to analyze the causes of an increased in Mn among farmers.