Nexus of pesticide exposure, personal preventive measures and farm workers’ health safety in cotton production

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence and possible predictors of health hazards and their effects on health cost of pesticide applicators and non-applicators. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 580 farm households using multistage sampling technique. The pesticide applicators and non-applicators involved in cotton production were interviewers by the survey team. The prevalence of occupational hazards was higher among the pesticide applicators than non-applicators. Logit regression analysis revealed that the more educated, well trained workers were relatively less vulnerable. Similarly, personal protective measures such as wearing boots and protective handkerchief, and taking bath after pesticide application reduced probability of health risk. Prolonged exposure to pesticide, distance from hospital, and smoking habits were risk factors for development of occupational hazards among the pesticide applicators and non-applicators. The total mean score of health cost resulting from occupational hazards was significantly lower in pesticide non-applicators than pesticide applicators. Workers involved in pesticide application are at higher risk for developing occupational hazards that adversely affects general health and quality of life. The study urges policymakers to formulate programs for proper training of farm workers, encouraging the use of personal preventive measures and the provision of health facilities to farm workers. This will not only improve health of workers but also save undue expenses on medical treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Health hazards
• personal preventive measures
• farm workers
• Pakistan

Availability of data and material

Data will be available on the request to corresponding author.

Competing interests

Authors declare that they have no financial and non-financial competing interests.

Ethical statement and formal approval

The study followed well-designed ethics standards and the interviewers explained the purpose of the study to the respondents and ensured them confidentiality of the information. Ethical Committee for Scientific Research, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus confirmed ethics standards followed in the study vide notification CUI-VHR/18-5/ECSR.

Notes

1 A farm worker/agricultural worker is one who is employed for labor in agriculture. Farmers are owners or managers of the farm. Hand-harvesting of cotton done by female workers are named as cotton pickers. Pesticide applicator is referred to a household member who sprays pesticide most of the time or involved in the spraying process. Non-applicator refers to a member of the household who does not spray pesticides and are involved in applying fertilizers, irrigation and other inputs in cotton production.

2 USD = PAK RS 157

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge financial support of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for the research grant No. 20-4664/NRPU/R&D/HEC/14/1312.