Health promotion outcomes associated with a community-based program to reduce pesticide-related risks among small farm households

Abstract

A range of determinants at multiple socio-ecological levels operate in small farm households' use and handling of hazardous pesticides, suggesting the need for integrated health and agriculture promotion approaches. The aim is to assess changes in health promotion outcomes relevant to highly hazardous pesticide use associated with a multi-component community program. A longitudinal evaluation design using mixed methods was employed in 18 agricultural communities in Ecuador. Over a 7-month period, health education and agricultural interventions focused upon: health risks associated with hazardous pesticides, more adequate use and handling of pesticides, and better crop management techniques. Data collection included field forms, focus groups, structured observations and repeat surveys. In the qualitative analysis, communities were compared by extent of leadership and involvement with the interventions. For the quantitative analysis, hypothesized paths were constructed including factors relevant to pesticide-related practices and use. Testing involved gender-role stratified (household and crop manager) multivariable regression models. Information on pesticide health impacts and the pesticide use and handling, shared in focus groups, showed substantial improvement, as a result of health promotion activities though people were still observed to engage in risky practices in the field. In path models, community leadership and intervention intensity lead to changes in the household managers' pesticide-related knowledge and practices and to reduction in farm use of hazardous pesticides (both significant, p < 0.05). Integrated, community programs can promote pesticide-related risk reduction among small farm households. Changing practices in the use and management of pesticides among crop managers appears limited by deeper structural and cultural factors.

Pesticide lock-in in small scale Peruvian agriculture

“…As predicted in Table 2, female respondents were less likely to use pesticides than males. This finding supports Orozco et al's (2011) finding that amongst Andean Ecuadorian small-scale farmers, women's participation in farm decision making and more equality in household roles is associated with less use of toxic pesticides. We must note that in our study we were not able to differentiate between female farmers that may have been widowed or single, and female farmers that participated in the household's farming with their spouse.…”

Exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides and health conditions in agricultural and non-agricultural workers from Maule, Chile

“…Our results also indicate that the majority of workers receive little training on the effects of pesticides. We suggest that training in safe pesticide handling be carried out amongst all agricultural workers, and respecting the specific cultural context of those workers, as suggested by previous literature (Lehtola et al 2008; Salvatore et al 2009; Ospina et al 2009; Orozco et al 2011). …”

Abordagem socioambiental na enfermagem: focalizando o trabalho rural e uso de agrotóxicos

“…A study conducted in Argentina with workers who applied pesticides directly and those who did not apply, but were present at the application site, showed that these first group presented disorders (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase) at levels similar to the others (25) . In this sense, the environment takes on the meaning of social space a social ecosystem (1)(2)(3) in the structure of relationships established between living beings and physical and social environments with natural and human built features, such as the work space itself. This last is part of the creative process of human beings and is, therefore, able to result in healthy or unhealthy effects for the vital process, in this case, to the rural workers.…”

“…The socio-environmental approach to human health in relation to labor requires a continuous and engaging process in the construction and evaluation of care and prevention strategies as a way of understanding and managing the social and environmental situations (1)(2)(3) that influence workers' health conditions and diseases. The constitution of socio-environmental objects in this case, the work environment and the worker requires an understanding of the links to/associations with between the production of health/disease and the work process, with reference to rural workers and the use of pesticides at work.…”