Abstract:
Objective: To study mental health and factors related of Burmese alien labours in fishery industry. Setting: Fishery industry in Muang district, Samutsakhon province. Research design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Sample: 151 Burmese alien labours by stratified random sampling. Methods: Mental health scores of alien labours were measured by GHQ12. Relationship between the scores and general factors, work factors and inter-personal factors were analyzed by unpaired t-test. Then, statistical significant factors (p<0.05) and potential factors associated with mental health score shown from previous studies were analyzed by linear regression analysis. Results: Alien labours had normal mental health (96%). Problems were lost much sleep over worry (Mean=0.4) felt constantly under strain (Mean=0.3) felt that you werent playing a useful part in things (Mean=0.3) not able to concentrate on whatever you are doing (Mean=0.3) and not able to concentrate on whatever you are doing (Mean=0.2). Females alien labour had better mental health than males alien labour (p=0.01). The high mental health scores (i.e. poor mental health) were associated with being Buddhist (p=0.03), being married (p=0.05), alcohol use, coffee use (p<0.01), long duration of living in Thailand (p=0.02), having holiday with getting wage (p<0.01) and working in frozen company (p<0.01). However, alien labours that had very good inter-personal relationship had better mental health than average or good relationship (p=0.02). When analyzed with linear regression analysis, relationship with employer was the first factor that could explain the mental health score of alien labour (p<0.01). And working in frozen company was the last factor (p<0.01). The model was able to explain the change of mental health score for 21.6%. Conclusions: Very good relationship with employer was associated with good mental health of Burmese alien labours while working in frozen company predicted poor mental health of the alien labours in fishery industry at Muang district, Samutsakhon, Thailand.