The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand
Introduction Tobacco cultivation is associated with financial instability, health risks, and environmental degradation. While Thailand has made progress in tobacco control, challenges remain in supporting farmers with sustainable alternatives. This study examined the perceived economic, health, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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European Publishing
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/The-impacts-on-the-economy-health-and-environment-resulting-from-tobacco-cultivation,204301,0,2.html |
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| _version_ | 1849427859788005376 |
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| author | Chakkraphan Phetphum Raphael Lencucha |
| author_facet | Chakkraphan Phetphum Raphael Lencucha |
| author_sort | Chakkraphan Phetphum |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Tobacco cultivation is associated with financial instability, health risks,
and environmental degradation. While Thailand has made progress in tobacco
control, challenges remain in supporting farmers with sustainable alternatives.
This study examined the perceived economic, health, and environmental impacts
of tobacco cultivation among Thai tobacco farmers.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2021 to January
2022 in Chiang Mai, Phrae, and Sukhothai, the major tobacco-growing provinces
in Thailand. A total of 1505 tobacco farmers completed self-administered
questionnaires. The instrument measured perceived impacts on a 3-point Likert
scale (low to high). Frequencies and proportions for descriptive statistics are
reported along with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for logistic
regression models.
Results
Economic impacts were most frequently reported (43.7%), particularly
increased debt (47.6%) and income loss (43.5%). Health impacts (31.6%) included
symptoms of Green Tobacco Sickness (47.2%) and reduced work capacity (29.9%).
Environmental concerns (14.4%) included pesticide contamination (10.8%) and
degradation of soil and water resources (10.6%). Higher economic impact was
associated with cultivating Virginia tobacco (AOR=6.51; 95% CI: 4.90–8.63),
higher level of education (AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.01–1.92), contract farming
(AOR=1.27; 95% CI: 0.99–1.63), and farming experience (AOR=1.00; 95% CI:
0.99–1.01). Health impact was associated with age (AOR=1.04; 95% CI: 1.03–
1.05), land rental (AOR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.58–0.98), female gender (AOR=0.74;
95% CI: 0.58–0.94), and Virginia cultivation (AOR=0.32; 95% CI: 0.23–0.44).
Environmental impact was linked to labor hiring (AOR=2.68; 95% CI: 1.41–5.07)
and land rental (AOR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.39–0.79).
Conclusions
Thai tobacco farmers face significant economic, health, and
environmental burdens. Policy interventions should promote sustainable
alternatives to mitigate these impacts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-32ba2e7a9c974923acd7aeb15ae30d53 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-32ba2e7a9c974923acd7aeb15ae30d532025-08-20T03:28:54ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252025-05-0123May11110.18332/tid/204301204301The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in ThailandChakkraphan Phetphum0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2410-9524Raphael Lencucha1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9273-2027Department of Community Health, Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, ThailandSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, CanadaIntroduction Tobacco cultivation is associated with financial instability, health risks, and environmental degradation. While Thailand has made progress in tobacco control, challenges remain in supporting farmers with sustainable alternatives. This study examined the perceived economic, health, and environmental impacts of tobacco cultivation among Thai tobacco farmers. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2021 to January 2022 in Chiang Mai, Phrae, and Sukhothai, the major tobacco-growing provinces in Thailand. A total of 1505 tobacco farmers completed self-administered questionnaires. The instrument measured perceived impacts on a 3-point Likert scale (low to high). Frequencies and proportions for descriptive statistics are reported along with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for logistic regression models. Results Economic impacts were most frequently reported (43.7%), particularly increased debt (47.6%) and income loss (43.5%). Health impacts (31.6%) included symptoms of Green Tobacco Sickness (47.2%) and reduced work capacity (29.9%). Environmental concerns (14.4%) included pesticide contamination (10.8%) and degradation of soil and water resources (10.6%). Higher economic impact was associated with cultivating Virginia tobacco (AOR=6.51; 95% CI: 4.90–8.63), higher level of education (AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.01–1.92), contract farming (AOR=1.27; 95% CI: 0.99–1.63), and farming experience (AOR=1.00; 95% CI: 0.99–1.01). Health impact was associated with age (AOR=1.04; 95% CI: 1.03– 1.05), land rental (AOR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.58–0.98), female gender (AOR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.58–0.94), and Virginia cultivation (AOR=0.32; 95% CI: 0.23–0.44). Environmental impact was linked to labor hiring (AOR=2.68; 95% CI: 1.41–5.07) and land rental (AOR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.39–0.79). Conclusions Thai tobacco farmers face significant economic, health, and environmental burdens. Policy interventions should promote sustainable alternatives to mitigate these impacts.https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/The-impacts-on-the-economy-health-and-environment-resulting-from-tobacco-cultivation,204301,0,2.htmltobacco farmerstobacco cultivationeconomic impacthealth impactenvironmental impact |
| spellingShingle | Chakkraphan Phetphum Raphael Lencucha The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand Tobacco Induced Diseases tobacco farmers tobacco cultivation economic impact health impact environmental impact |
| title | The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand |
| title_full | The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand |
| title_fullStr | The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand |
| title_short | The impacts on the economy, health, and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation: A cross-sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in Thailand |
| title_sort | impacts on the economy health and environment resulting from tobacco cultivation a cross sectional survey of tobacco farmer perspectives in thailand |
| topic | tobacco farmers tobacco cultivation economic impact health impact environmental impact |
| url | https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/The-impacts-on-the-economy-health-and-environment-resulting-from-tobacco-cultivation,204301,0,2.html |
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