Adverse General Health Outcomes of Myanmar Migrant Workers in Parawood Production Cluster of Phangnga Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and August 2004 in order to analyze health status of Myanmar migrant workers in parawood production cluster of Phang-Nga Province, using a health survey form which was translated into Myanmar language. Two groups included parawood plantation area (site A) (n=363) and parawood production plant (site B) (n=114). Adverse general health outcomes including 68 selfreported symptoms in the past month in individual respondents were recorded by severity classification (eg mild, moderate, and severe). Adverse effect score (AES) of the symptoms was mathematically derived: the frequency of the “Total yes” symptom by the respondents who developed mild, moderate, or severe symptoms, were divided by the frequency of the “No” symptom by the respondents who did not respond at all. Of the 68 symptoms reported by the respondents with “Total yes” and “No” frequencies, there were 14 symptoms significantly different from the sites A and B. Also, 15 and 19 symptoms with significant difference were found between the age groups (<30 and ≥30 years) and between the genders, respectively. Of the 16 common symptoms with the AEStotal yes ≥0.5, there were 4 most common symptoms (AEStotal yes ≥1.0), which included low back pain, headache, myalgia and fatigue. For genders, the mean scores of the AEStotal yes (Z=-1.609, P=0.108), AESmild (Z=-1.395, P=0.163), and AESmoderate (Z=-0.890, P=0.378) were all not significantly different. The mean score of the AESsevere in females rather than in males was significantly different (Z=-3.216, P=0.001). Findings suggest that, for disease prevention and control measures, social measures and laws in those with high backgrounds of adverse general health outcomes, point-of-care monitoring of adverse events or general health cares in occupation in the Myanmars would likely be necessary.