Prevalence of Pesticide Use and Occupational Exposure Among Small-Scale Farmers in Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence of pesticide use and its occupational exposure among small-scale farmers in the Kellem Wellega Zone of western Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design using a structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 249 small-scale farmers’ households through face-to-face interviews. Statistical analysis such as descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis was applied, and a P-value <.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of pesticide use was 87.15%. About 44.2%, 40.2%, and 43.8% of the study participants were classified as having poor knowledge, poor practice, and negative attitude toward pesticide use, respectively. Thus, small-scale farmers whose age was greater than 40 years were 7.87 times more likely to be exposed to skin irritation than those whose age was less than 20 years (AOR = 7.87; 95% CI: 1.75-35.45) and skin contact (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15-0.91). Most farmers who were directly involved in agriculture were 2.22 times more likely to be exposed to the inhalation of pesticide chemicals than those involved in another activity (AOR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.14-4.33). Based on educational level, small-scale farmers who have a primary school and above were 81% less likely to inhale pesticide chemicals than those who did not have formal education (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.09-0.41). Furthermore, low-income small-scale farmers were 2.62 times more likely to be exposed to coughing (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.25-5.51) than high-income participants. Furthermore, farmers with good knowledge were 1.79 times more likely to be exposed to skin irritation than those with poor knowledge (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.0-3.17). Farmers with poor practice were 1.85 times more likely to show coughing symptoms than those with good practice (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.08-3.2), and farmers with good practice were 48% less likely to be exposed to headache than those with poor practice (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.31-0.88). Conclusions: This study shows that small-scale farmers were exposed to pesticides through coughing, headache, skin irritation, inhalation, and skin contact. Low level of knowledge, poor practice, job, low income, older age, and educational level.

Understanding determinants related to farmers’ protective measures towards pesticide exposure: A systematic review

“…The articles included in the analysis were based on studies conducted in the Australia (n = 1) [ 19 ], Iran (n = 4) [ 12 , 14 , 20 , 21 ], Canada (n = 1) [ 22 ], China (n = 1) [ 23 ], Uganda (n = 3) [ 24 – 26 ], Thailand (n = 3) [ 27 – 29 ], Egypt (n = 1) [ 30 ], Brazil (n = 2) [ 31 , 32 ] Nepal (n = 3) [ 33 – 35 ], Pakistan (n = 3) [ 36 – 38 ], Italy (n = 1) [ 39 ], Turkey (n = 1) [ 40 ], India (n = 1) [ 41 ], Malaysia (n = 1) [ 42 ], Ghana (n = 1) [ 43 ], Morocco (n = 2) [ 44 , 45 ], Nigeria (n = 2) [ 46 , 47 ], Vietnam (n = 1) [ 48 ], Philippine (n = 1) [ 49 ], Costa Rica and Uganda (n = 1) [ 50 ], and Ethiopia (n = 5) [ 51 – 55 ]. Among the 39 articles obtained in this study, sampling techniques included simple random sampling (n = 12) [ 19 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 38 , 41 , 48 , 52 , 53 , 55 ], quota sampling (n = 3) [ 34 , 36 , 44 ], systematic random sampling (n = 2) [ …”

“…The total number of samples was low. Less than 350 samples were used in twenty three studies [ 12 , 20 , 21 , 24 – 28 , 30 – 34 , 36 – 39 , 41 – 43 , 45 , 47 , 53 ].…”

Effects of Market Incentives and Livelihood Dependence on Farmers’ Multi-Stage Pesticide Application Behavior—A Case Study of Four Provinces in China

“…However, in previous studies, scholars have mainly studied pesticide application by farmers from the aspects of policy incentives [ 91 , 92 ], informal systems [ 93 , 94 , 95 ], organization and service outsourcing [ 96 , 97 ], and household resource endowments [ 98 , 99 ]. However, most of them explored those aspects in an isolated way and do not present any comprehensive model to test the impact of market incentives and livelihood dependence on farmers’ pesticide application behavior in an integrated manner.…”

Exposure Routes and Health Risks Associated with Pesticide Application

“…Respiratory exposure (via inhalation or breathing) occurs because of the volatile components of pesticides [69][70][71][72] and it is dangerous to workers' health, especially their nose, throat, and lung tissues if they inhale large amounts of pesticides in the environment through air, water, and soil [33,[70][71][72][73]. For example, Yoshida et al [72] evaluated household exposure to pyrethroids through all exposure pathways and discussed the contribution of the inhalation pathway in Japanese children.…”