The Related Factors of the National Tobacco Control Policies and Planning Response of Thai Tobacco Farmer Households

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the economic and social aspects of the Thai tobacco farmer households, to study the levels and the related factors of the national tobacco control policies and planning response of the Thai tobacco farmer households. The data obtained from quantitative research and the household level was the unit of analysis. The sample comprised of 400 tobacco farmer households who were selected by a group sampling technique from the main tobacco fields in Thailand, for instance, Phrae province, Phetchabun province, Nong Khai province and Roi Et province. The structure questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument. The univariate statistics were explained by descriptive statistics with frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation and the bivariate statistics were analyzed by Chi-Square test. 

The research finding was as follows: 1) the tobacco farmer households were both accumulated and engaged for their livelihoods with four capital assets which were human capital, physical capital, finance capital and natural resource capital. They were not only reduced tobacco fields but also, they were not cultivated the other plants. However, they distinguished the information of the National Tobacco Control policies and planning, and they concerned these policies which were affected their households, communities and networks. Moreover, they focused on health and finance for their wellbeing. 2) The tobacco farmer households were decreasingly reacted to the national tobacco control policies and planning (54.5%) and more than half of them were not reacted to these policies (58.3%). 3) There were three factors related to the national tobacco control policies and planning response of the Thai tobacco farmer households: tobacco field, habitation and the number of neighbors who were the tobacco farmer with statistically significance at 0.05 level. As a result, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the related organization should inform and build understanding about the national tobacco control policies and planning for the tobacco farmers who response at the low level and work with the tobacco farmer networks particularly the neighbor who cultivate the tobacco.