Pesticides: Perceived Threat and Protective Behaviors Among Latino Farmworkers

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and beliefs of 72 Latino farmworkers in North Carolina about the threat of health effects of pesticides, including cancer. It sought to explore relationships between threat perceptions and pesticide protective behaviors observed in the field. Methods/Results: Utilizing stepwise multiple regression, the authors found that years worked in agriculture in the United States was associated with decreased use of protective clothing. Conclusion: Pesticide protective behaviors in the field may be improved by utilizing moderately experienced farmworkers (<10 years) as lay advisors to reinforce training.

KEYWORDS:

• Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers
• pesticide protective behaviors
• threat of cancer
• threat of illness

Acknowledgments

The authors are most grateful to the farmworkers and growers who participated in this research.

Funding

Dr. Walton was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers T32NR013456 and T32NR007091. She was also supported by an American Cancer Society Doctoral Scholarship (DSCNR-13-276- 03), an Oncology Nursing Society Doctoral Scholarship, and a Jonas Nurse Leader Scholarship.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Walton was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers T32NR013456 and T32NR007091. She was also supported by an American Cancer Society Doctoral Scholarship (DSCNR-13-276- 03), an Oncology Nursing Society Doctoral Scholarship, and a Jonas Nurse Leader Scholarship.