Lilis Widiastuty, Fatmawaty Mallapiang, Hasbi Ibrahim, Muhammad Azwar

Analysis of Work Injuries and Health Complaints Among Farmers in Bontomanai Village, Rumbia Subdistrict, Jeneponto Regency

Introduction

Analysis of work injuries and health complaints among farmers in bontomanai village, rumbia subdistrict, jeneponto regency. Analyze work injuries & health complaints among farmers in Bontomanai Village, Jeneponto. Identifies links between gender & injuries, and working hours & health. Suggests OHS cadres for safety.

Abstract

Work in the agricultural sector heavily depends on nature and the physical environment. The risk of accidents increases due to fatigue, inadequate equipment, difficult terrain, exposure to extreme weather, and poor health, which are also associated with working and living in remote areas. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing injuries and health complaints among farmers in Bontomanai Village. This research is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design conducted from July to October 2024 in Bontomanai Village, Gowa Regency. The respondents of this study were 315 farmers selected through purposive sampling. The independent variables were age, education level, gender, work experience, working hours, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and working posture. A total of 16.5% of respondents experienced injuries, while 55.6% reported health complaints. There was a significant relationship between gender and injuries, as well as between working hours and health complaints. Limiting working hours and empowering the community by forming "Agricultural OHS Cadres" is suggested to provide continuous knowledge about Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in the agricultural sector.   Keywords: injury; farmer; health; safety

Review

This study addresses a critically important topic concerning the occupational health and safety of farmers, particularly in a context like Bontomanai Village where agricultural work is deeply intertwined with environmental challenges and socioeconomic factors. The authors clearly outline their objective to identify factors influencing work injuries and health complaints, utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional design with a substantial sample of 315 farmers. The selection of independent variables, including age, education, gender, work experience, working hours, PPE use, and working posture, provides a comprehensive framework for exploring potential risks. The study's focus on a specific, likely vulnerable population in a remote area adds significant value, highlighting a demographic often overlooked in broader occupational health research. The findings presented are insightful, revealing that a notable proportion of farmers experience injuries (16.5%) and, more strikingly, over half report health complaints (55.6%). The identification of a significant relationship between gender and injuries, and between working hours and health complaints, offers crucial starting points for targeted interventions. However, a significant discrepancy needs clarification: the abstract states the study was conducted in Bontomanai Village, *Gowa Regency*, while the title specifies *Jeneponto Regency*. This needs to be corrected to ensure accuracy and reproducibility. Furthermore, while purposive sampling is often practical in such settings, its potential implications for generalizability beyond the immediate study population should be acknowledged. The recommendations proposed, such as limiting working hours and establishing "Agricultural OHS Cadres," are practical and well-aligned with the study's findings, particularly regarding the impact of working hours on health complaints. For future research, it would be beneficial to delve deeper into the *types* of injuries and health complaints observed, and to explore the *mechanisms* behind the gender-injury relationship. Longitudinal studies could further establish causality, and qualitative methods might offer richer insights into farmers' perceptions of risk and barriers to adopting safer practices. Despite the minor inconsistency in location, this study makes a valuable contribution to understanding occupational health challenges in the agricultural sector, providing a robust foundation for community-based health and safety initiatives.

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