| dc.description.abstract | Background: Increase in agricultural activities in Uganda has increased use of Pesticides. Pesticides are vital in agriculture as they prevent loss of production. However, if not properly used can create health risks. This study will determine pesticides use practices and acute health effects among farmers in Maddu sub county Gomba District
Method: This was a cross section study that involved collection of quantitative data from 261 farmers in Maddu sub-county, Gomba district using a structured questionnaire Data was collected on pesticides types used and for which farming activity, practices during handling and application as well as health effects experienced. Data was entered using EpiData version 3.1 and transferred to Stata version 13 for analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out for frequency and percentages for categorical variables and means, standard deviation, median and interquartile ranges for continuous variables.
Results: A total of 261 respondents participated in the study. Majority of the respondents were males 75.9% (198/261), 59.4% (155/261) of the respondents were married, 64.0 %( 167/261) had attained the primary education and the mean age of the respondents was 39.8 years with a standard deviation of 11.0. Most of the respondents practiced crop growing 68.2% (178/261). Pesticide most active ingredient used was Abamectin 67.2% (174/259), the most common chemical group among the farmers was pyrethroids 64.1% (166/259) and insecticides were the most common pest target group of pesticide 68.7% (178/259). Almost all the farmers used pesticides on their farms 99.2% (259/261). Almost two-thirds of the farmers used pesticides on livestock 62.6% (162/259). Most of the farmers said they used knap sack sprayer to apply pesticides 94.2% (244/259). Almost all the farmers reported using PPE 89.2% (231/259) while spraying although the boots were the most used PPE with 16.9% (39/259) reporting using them. The most common precautionary measures by farmers while handling pesticides in the field where washing hands immediately after spraying 89.2% (231/259). Only 10.0% (26/259) of the farmers reported receiving pesticide management trainings of which 79.9% received it from pesticide retailers and 57.7% from fellow farmers. Almost all the farmers who IX used pesticides brought them from the pesticide shop 98.1% (254/259). Almost half of the farmers 42.9% (111/259) did not read labels about the pesticides before application of which 67.6% didn’t read because they didn’t know how to read while 29.7% didn’t understand the language. 6% of the farmers drunk or ate food during application. Almost two thirds of the farmers 60.2% (156/259) did not read the safety information that comes along with the pesticides. Two thirds of the farmers 66.4% (172/259) stored the pesticides in the kitchen/storage room with 59.1% buying and using them immediately. The most common reported method of disposing used pesticide containers was burning 91.1% (236/259) and throwing them anywhere 81.9% (212/259). More than half 54.4 (142/261) of the farmers felt ill in the last month, majority 89.7 %( 234/261) of the farmers had ever felt ill after handling pesticides and the most common symptom after spraying was skin irritation (83.9%). 37.5% of the farmers self-medicated to treat the symptoms. The most common acute health effects among farmers included skin irritation 83.9% (219/261), nausea 83.1% (217/261), headache 65.9% (172/261) and dry mouth 58.2% (152/261).
Conclusion: The study revealed that most study respondents were male, had obtained only primary education as their highest level of education and the most engaged in crop growing. Most of the farmers used Class 1b and Class II pesticides which are hazardous. Farmers had poor practices towards the use of PPE as well as handling pesticides which was resulting into acute health effects after use of the pesticides. Thus it is important to train farmers in integrated pest management methods, the use of PPE as well as the handling of pesticides | en_US |
