Comparison of Pesticide Exposure and Health Impact between Normal and Safe Group with Risk and Unsafe Group among Sugarcane Farmers in Namon Sub-District, Namon District, Kalasin Province

Abstract

Sugarcane farmers have a range of health problems due to exposure to pesticides. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted to compare pesticide exposure and health impact between normal and safe group with risk and unsafe group among sugarcane farmers. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a total of 172 farmers (86 participants in each group). Data were analysed using R-Studio program. The statistics used were percentage, mean, standard deviation, odds ratio value and Chai-square. The results showed that most participants in the normal and safe group were male (94.2%), married (96.5%) and aged 41-50 years old, and they had pesticide exposure behaviours in a good level (89.5%), a daily chemical exposure in a good level (89.5%), a primary health impact (80.2%), a moderate level of knowledge (44.2%), and a moderate attitude (41.9%). Most of participants in the risk and unsafe group were male (95.3%), married (100%) and aged 41-50 years old, and they had pesticide exposure behaviours in a good level (91.9%), a daily chemical exposure in a good level (81.4%), a moderate health impact (66.3%), a moderate level of knowledge (41.9%), and a moderate attitude (72.1%). The participants in the risk and unsafe group owned sugarcane farm more than 56,000 square meters wide (Odds ratio=2.01; 95% CI=1.07-3.75). Regarding pesticide exposure behaviours, they used their mouth to open pesticide bottles and did not use measuring spoon to prepare pesticide substance (Odds ratio=4.69; 95% CI=1.50-14.67). For health impact, it was found they had moderate and severe symptoms (Odds ratio=8.87; 95% CI=4.41-17.85). Regarding knowledge, they had correct instructions about label how-to use pesticides (Odds ratio=3.35; 95% CI=1.40-8.03), behaviours on preparation or mixing the pesticide chemicals with no protection (Odds ratio=2.17; 95% CI=1.09-0.34). With regard to attitude about pesticide exposure, they did not have concern on the cost of the pesticide (Odds ratio=2.59; 95% CI=1.11-6.08). Enabling factors for pesticide use were more choice of the products (Odds ratio=0.34; 95% CI=0.18-0.65), low unit cost (Odds ratio=0.20; 95% CI=0.05-0.74), convenient use through spraying machine (Odds ratio=0.23; 95% CI=0.04-1.13) and easy purchasing through dealers (Odds ratio=18.1; 95% CI=8.43-39.02). The study recommends to provide education and trainings on pesticide safety use, spraying machine safety use and the high cost of the products. Moreover, a proactive health check-up for the risk group of sugarcane farmers and surveillance on the pesticide use among sugarcane farmers in large areas should be performed annually.