Knowledge, attitude and practices related to pesticide usage among farmers: Findings from a hospital based cross-sectional study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pandiyan, Arun^a | Lari, Summaiya^a | Vanka, Janardhan^a | Gavaravarapu, SubbaRao M.^b | Jee, Babban^c | Jonnalagadda, Padmaja R.^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Food Safety Division, ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India | [b] Nutrition Information, Communication and Health Education (NICHE), ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India | [c] Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Padmaja R. Jonnalagadda, Food Safety Division, ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND:In India, where agriculture is the prime occupation among the rural population, farmers are extensively using pesticides in crop production without taking adequate precautions. OBJECTIVE:The current study aimed to examine pesticide usage patterns, usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), knowledge on pesticide toxicity, and attitude towards occupational safety among farmers diagnosed with leukaemia (n = 60), lymphoma (n = 33), and breast cancer (n = 30) visiting a tertiary cancer care hospital in Hyderabad, India. METHODS:Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire and the data collected were analysed with statistical software SPSS 23. RESULTS:The survey revealed that the participants had an average of 19.6 years of farming experience and women were predominantly involved in the mixing of pesticides and other agricultural work apart from spraying. All of them were not using any PPE and the majority of them did not have any knowledge on the route of exposure, toxicity symbols, and safe handling of pesticides. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between educational status and knowledge, attitude and practices (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION:Even though the majority of the farmers were educated, their lack of adequate knowledge on pesticides had enabled them to adopt risky behaviours in handling and storage of pesticides. There is a need for continuous training programs for farmers to promote awareness and minimize the hazards of occupational exposure.

Keywords: Agricultural worker, pesticides, farming, occupational exposure, personal-protective-equipment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220038

Journal: Work, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 1061-1070, 2023