A Community-Based Program for Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle Among Farmers in Indonesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims: Due to their jobs, farmers are exposed to a high risk of pesticide and organophosphate exposure, which can lead to chronic diseases. However, such a problem could be overcome by implementing a healthy lifestyle. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the community-based program on promoting a healthy lifestyle (CP2HL) among farmers in Indonesia. Materials Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed among 135 (intervention=68 and control=67) farmers in Indonesia. The CP2HL using transtheoretical model-lead (TTM) lasted for 24 weeks and included education, training, and follow-up sessions for the intervention group. Meanwhile, those in the control group attended a regular program at the local public health center to get their health measured. The modified healthy lifestyle among farmers was measured using six structured questionnaires. The inter- and intra-group differences were evaluated using paired t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to assess the effect of intervention.   Findings: There was a significant difference in the modified healthy lifestyle after CP2HL (p 0.05), including in the areas of organophosphate pesticide exposure, farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior, nutrition knowledge, musculoskeletal symptoms, upper respiratory infection symptoms, and farmer burnout. During the follow-up period, the intervention group showed a healthier lifestyle than the control group. Conclusion: CP2HL can significantly promote a healthy lifestyle among farmers after the intervention.