碩士 / 國立台北護理學院 / 醫護管理研究所 / 96 / Background: The recent outbreak of avian influenza has huge influence on society, economy and health care institutions in Taiwan. Despite Taiwan being free of high pathogenic avian influenza, if avian influenza develops a pattern of human-to-human H5N1 transmission, poultry industry workers can be expected to suffer huge mental, psychological and physical stress, given the high financial and health risks they would then be facing. Unfortunately, no previous studies have examined the influence of H5N1 outbreak on the mental health of poultry industry workers.
Objectives: To investigate the influence of H5N1 breakout on poultry industry workers, specifically in terms of their social-economic status, mental health situation and other related factors.
Methods: This study used a structured questionnaire design. The study population comprised the 3,412 registered poultry farm workers listed in records of the Poultry Association of the Republic of China (2,346 workers) and the Duck Association of the Republic of China (1, 066). Among the 3,412 questionnaires mailed out, 511 were returned, of which 496 were valid. The response rate was thus 14.54%. The SPSS 14.0 statistical package was used for the analysis.
Results: The analytical results demonstrated that H5N1 outbreak has major economic consequences for the poultry farming industry. Poultry farming industry workers responded that, the industry was seriously affected by the H5N1 outbreak (>90 % ), with poultry sales volume having significantly declined (> 80 %), the industry suffering profit declines exceeding 30% (> 60 %), and family income suffering (>60 %). Respondents also felt there was no future left for the poultry farming industry(>40 %), and that government should provide more compensation to industry participants to cover their losses (>97 %). The H5N1 outbreak also had a considerable social influence on poultry industry workers. Workers with few connections to other friends or relatives, who feared H5N1, and who were pessimistic regarding the future of the poultry industry had an increased risk of mental health problems. Additionally, a higher proportion of subjects had an unhealthy mental condition ( 26.8 %), particularly female workers and those with money invested in the industry.
Conclusions: Over a quarter of poultry industry workers surveyed in this study had poor mental health, particularly female workers and those with money invested in the industry. The government should more actively integrate the social support system to help and support those in need. Additionally, to minimize panic among poultry industry workers, accurate epidemic information should be promptly made available.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TW/096NTCN0711008 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Lai, Yi-Chun, 賴怡均 |
| Contributors | Chen, Chu-Chieh, 陳楚杰 |
| Source Sets | National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan |
| Language | zh-TW |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | 學位論文 ; thesis |
| Format | 112 |
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