Tobacco Farming in Rural Vietnam: Economic Gains and Health Risks
Author Information
Author(s): Van Minh Hoang, Giang Kim Bao, Bich Nguyen Ngoc, Huong Nguyen Thanh
Primary Institution: Hanoi Medical University
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between tobacco cultivation and self-reported illness among farmers in rural Vietnam?
Conclusion
The study shows that while tobacco farmers may appear to benefit financially, the health risks associated with tobacco farming are significant.
Supporting Evidence
- Tobacco farmers reported higher occurrences of 9 out of 16 health problems compared to non-tobacco farmers.
- Tobacco farming was the second strongest predictor of health problems after age.
- The average profit from tobacco farming was minimal when accounting for personal opportunity costs.
Takeaway
Growing tobacco might seem like a good way to make money, but it can make farmers sick and doesn't pay off as much as they think.
Methodology
A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in two tobacco farming and two non-tobacco farming communes, sampling 120 households from each.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the interviewers' experience and the respondents' educational levels affecting the validity of the data.
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included farmers aged 15-69, with a low education level and a majority being involved in farming.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.5–8.0
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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