Factors Related to the Safety Behavior of Agricultural Pesticides Used among Farmers in Community, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

Occupational exposure to pesticides among farmer may cause acute and long-term health effects to farmers. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate factors related to the safety behavior of agricultural pesticides used among farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted with farmers in Kiriwong district, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The study was conducted from April to October 2015. A total of 187 workers participated in this study. Data were collected by using structured interview questionnaire. Descriptive and Chi-square statistics were used for data analysis. The results shown that 59.9% of farmers were male. Approximately 94.7% of famers had work experience more than 5 years; and 36.9% were subjected to the pesticides in farming for more than 5 years (36.9%). Most farmers had high level of knowledge, pesticide usage behaviors and the intermediate level of attitude, respectively, represented by 70.6%, 84.0% and 42.8%. Overall, education, work experience, duration time of usage pesticide, levels of knowledge and attitude were significantly related to the safety behavior of agricultural pesticides used among farmers (p<0.05). Therefore, farmers should be promoted and be provided training programs to increase knowledge, attitudes and to have appropriate behavior-based safety.