Analysis of health risk perceptions of chemical pesticides and the use of personal protective equipment among maize farmers in Ardabil province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Water Engineering and Agricultural Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Department of agricultural extension & education, Saravan higher education complex; Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Markazi province, Arak, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides and the use of personal protective equipment among farmers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among maize farmers in Ardabil province (N=1507) which was determined by multi-stage sampling and the table of Bartlett et al. (N=306). First, by determining the initial indicators, farmers' perceptions of pesticide health risk were assessed by the composite index (CI) technique. Farmers' groups were then analyzed based on the total composite index. According to the findings, the use of boots was the first priority and goggles the last priority was the use of personal protective equipment. There was a significant correlation between perceptions of health risk and use of personal protective equipment; but the perception of health did not necessarily correspond to the degree of toxicity of pesticides. According to the results of the composite index, 2,4-D herbicide was considered the most dangerous pesticide for farmers. Also, the most important differentiating variables of perception of health risk were mental norm, history of training courses and farm size, respectively. Despite the high perceptual and educational gap on pesticide health risks, special attention to group training methods, ongoing training feedback, involvement of local trustees and skilled farmers, and the use of local media and warning brochures can Improve perceptions of farmers' health risk (especially on a small scale).

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Objectives

In recent years, the pressure of governmental and non-governmental planning to increase maize production in Ardabil province has led to more use of chemical pesticides among farmers. Simultaneously with the spread of crop pests in maize in Ardabil province, farmers' inadequate perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides has increased the unsafe use of pesticides and its harmful effects on the health of farmers, consumers and the environment. In this regard, this study sought to analyze the perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides and the use of personal protective equipment among farmers in Ardabil province. The specific objectives include the identification and determination of pesticides used by farmers and the degree of toxicity of pesticides; Determining the use of personal protective equipment; Assessing farmers' perceptions of pesticide health risks, and determined the most important distinguishing variables of farmers' groups in their perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides.

 

Methods

The present cross-sectional study was performed among maize farmers in Ardabil province (N = 1507). The sample size was determined to be 306 (n = 306) using multi-stage sampling method based on the table of Bartlett et al. Thus, 185 maize farmers from Parsabad County, 74 maize farmers from Meshginshahr County and 47 maize farmers from Bilesavar County formed the statistical sample of the study. The most widely used pesticides in the area were Acetochlor, Consult, Chlorpyrifos and 2,4-D. Perception of health risk of chemical pesticides of maize (total composite index) is also perceived based on three indicators of perception of pesticide consumption (average allowable amount of pesticide consumption, relative to perception of pesticide consumption), severity of toxicity and perceived hazard of pesticide (perceived hazardous severity of pesticide relative to pesticide toxicity) and perception of number of personal protective equipment used for pesticide (number of personal protective equipment used, relative to recommended number of personal protective equipment), was measured. Finally, with the help of composite index calculation and multiple diagnostic analysis, the variables affecting the perception of health risk of chemical pesticides were analyzed.

 

Results

The use of boots in the first priority and goggles in the last priority was the use of personal protective equipment among farmers. There was a positive and significant correlation between farmers' perceptions of risk and the use of personal protective equipment; however, there was no significant correlation between the use of personal protective equipment and the degree of toxicity of pesticides and between the variables of farmers' perception of the danger of pesticides and the degree of toxicity of pesticides. Most farmers had a low level of perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides. According to the results of the composite index, the highest and lowest levels of farmers 'perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides, and the highest and lowest ratios of farmers' use of personal protection equipment were related to Consult and 2,4-D herbicides, respectively. For the values ​​of the first index, the respondents had the highest and lowest ratios of perception of the allowable amount to the amount of pesticide consumption, respectively, compared to Acetochlor and Consult pesticides, respectively. In addition, the most important variables that differentiated the perception of the health risk of chemical pesticides among farmers included the mental norm about the dangers of chemical pesticides, history of training courses and field size, respectively.

 

Conclusion

The results showed that low or incorrect perception of farmers about chemical pesticides puts them at greater health risks. Farmers were low on health perceptions and overused pesticides. Based on their perception of the risk of chemical pesticides, they used a different number of personal protection equipment, and farmers' perceptions of the dangers of chemical pesticides did not necessarily correspond to the degree of toxicity of the pesticides. Mental norm can also play a dominant role in farmers' perceptions. Insufficient use of personal protective equipment by the majority of farmers is a concern for the health of farmers in the region. In this regard, the high perceptual and educational gap between farmers with the health risks of chemical pesticides indicates the need to pay special attention to group training methods, the use of local media and warning brochures. In addition, ongoing educational feedback on chemical pesticides and the involvement of local trustees and skilled farmers in educating farmers can improve perceptions of farmers' health risks. However, in this regard, more attention to small-scale farmers can be a priority in educational and management programs in the region.

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 54, Issue 1
March 2023
Pages 149-164

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