IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i17p6635-d1224024.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Evaluation of a Pesticide Training Program to Reduce Pesticide Exposure and Enhance Safety among Female Farmworkers in Nan, Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Thanawat Rattanawitoon

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Wattasit Siriwong

    (College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Institute Building 3 (10th–11th Floor), Chulalongkorn soi 62, Phyathai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand)

  • Derek Shendell

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
    NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
    Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Nancy Fiedler

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
    Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Mark Gregory Robson

    (Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
    Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

Abstract

Background: Although exposure to chemical pesticides is known to cause negative effects on human health, farmers in Ban Luang, Nan, Thailand, continue to use them regularly to protect crops. This study focused on mothers who were engaged in farm tasks and had children between the ages of 0 to 72 months, with the objective of reducing pesticide exposure. Methods: This study was conducted from May 2020 to October 2020 in the Ban Fa and Ban Phi sub-districts in Ban Luang due to the high use of pesticides in these areas. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit 78 mothers exposed to pesticides. Thirty-nine mothers from Ban Fa district were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 39 from Ban Phi to the control group over a 3-month period. This study applied a pesticide behavioral change training program for the intervention group. To assess the effectiveness of the program, the study compared the results of a questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and health beliefs related to pesticide exposure as well as the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) enzymes, biomarkers of exposure to pesticides, before and after the intervention using ANCOVA statistical test. Furthermore, to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention program, a paired t -test was used to investigate the in-home pesticide safety assessment. Results: After the intervention, we observed no significant change in AChE; however, a significant improvement in BChE ( p < 0.05), a marker of short-term recovery, was observed. Pesticides can cause a reduction in AChE and BChE, however, after eliminating pesticides, BChE takes a shorter time (about 30–50 days) to recover than AChE (around 90–120 days). Therefore, increases in the measured concentrations of AChE and/or BChE suggest the presence of less chemicals from pesticides in the human body. The study also found a significant improvement in KAP and beliefs about chemical pesticide exposure after the intervention ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, using a paired t -test, we found a significant increase in pesticide safety practices ( p < 0.05) in the intervention group and a borderline significant increase regarding in-home safety ( p = 0.051) in the control group. Conclusions: Based on the results, the constructs of the intervention program were effective and could be applied in other agricultural areas in less developed countries. However, due to time limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, further studies should be conducted to enable data collection over a longer time, with a larger number of subjects providing the ChE levels for the non-agricultural season.

Suggested Citation

  • Thanawat Rattanawitoon & Wattasit Siriwong & Derek Shendell & Nancy Fiedler & Mark Gregory Robson, 2023. "An Evaluation of a Pesticide Training Program to Reduce Pesticide Exposure and Enhance Safety among Female Farmworkers in Nan, Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6635-:d:1224024
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6635/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6635/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mustapha F.A. Jallow & Dawood G. Awadh & Mohammed S. Albaho & Vimala Y. Devi & Binson M. Thomas, 2017. "Pesticide Knowledge and Safety Practices among Farm Workers in Kuwait: Results of a Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Akter, Sonia & Rutsaert, Pieter & Luis, Joyce & Htwe, Nyo Me & San, Su Su & Raharjo, Budi & Pustika, Arlyna, 2017. "Women’s empowerment and gender equity in agriculture: A different perspective from Southeast Asia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 270-279.
    3. Salvatore, A.L. & Chevrier, J. & Bradman, A. & Camacho, J. & López, J. & Kavanagh-Baird, G. & Minkler, M. & Eskenazi, B., 2009. "A community-based participatory worksite intervention to reduce pesticide exposures to farmworkers and their families," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99, pages 578-581.
    4. Men-Wen Chen & Harvey M. Santos & Danielle E. Que & Yan-You Gou & Lemmuel L. Tayo & Yi-Chyun Hsu & Young-Bin Chen & Fu-An Chen & How-Ran Chao & Kuo-Lin Huang, 2018. "Association between Organochlorine Pesticide Levels in Breast Milk and Their Effects on Female Reproduction in a Taiwanese Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mingyue Li & Jingjing Wang & Kai Chen & Lianbei Wu, 2020. "Willingness and Behaviors of Farmers’ Green Disposal of Pesticide Packaging Waste in Henan, China: A Perceived Value Formation Mechanism Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Manoch Naksata & Anucha Watcharapasorn & Surat Hongsibsong & Ratana Sapbamrer, 2020. "Development of Personal Protective Clothing for Reducing Exposure to Insecticides in Pesticide Applicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-10, May.
    3. Khalid M. Khan & Janesh Karnati & Ipsita Hamid & David Koceja & Mohammad Zahirul Islam & Md Alfazal Khan, 2019. "Residential Proximity to Agricultural Fields and Neurological and Mental Health Outcomes in Rural Adults in Matlab, Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Aslihan Arslan, Romina Cavatassi, Marup Hossain, 2022. "Research Series 69: Structural and rural transformation and food systems: a quantitative synthesis for LMICs," IFAD Research Series 320720, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    5. Lambrecht, Isabel Brigitte & Synt, Nang Lun Kham & Win, Hnin Ei & Mahrt, Kristi & Win, Khin Zin, 2024. "“It doesn’t matter at all—we are family”: Titling and joint property rights in Myanmar," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    6. Magnus Moglia & Kim S. Alexander & Silva Larson & Anne (Giger)-Dray & Garry Greenhalgh & Phommath Thammavong & Manithaythip Thephavanh & Peter Case, 2020. "Gendered Roles in Agrarian Transition: A Study of Lowland Rice Farming in Lao PDR," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-20, July.
    7. Haruna Musa Moda & Daniel Mensah Anang & Newton Moses & Felix Mandoli Manjo & Victoria Ibukun Joshua & Nwadike Christopher & Paulina Doka & Mela Danjin, 2022. "Pesticide Safety Awareness among Rural Farmers in Dadinkowa, Gombe State, Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, October.
    8. Sara Ratna Qanti & Alexandra Peralta & Di Zeng, 2022. "Social norms and perceptions drive women’s participation in agricultural decisions in West Java, Indonesia," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 645-662, June.
    9. Fabrizio Giannandrea & Domenica Fioredistella Iezzi, 2014. "Effectiveness of interventions to assess the impact of pesticides in the agricultural environment," Journal of Environments, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 1(1), pages 25-29.
    10. Hom Gartaula & Tek B Sapkota & Arun Khatri-Chhetri & Gokul Prasad & Lone Badstue, 2020. "Gendered impacts of greenhouse gas mitigation options for rice cultivation in India," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 1045-1063, November.
    11. Zivanayi, W & Hlangothi, B & Rasana, NH, 2023. "Knowledge And Perceptions Of Smallholder Farmers Regarding Solanum Incanum L. Use As A Pesticide In Mkoba Community In Gweru, Zimbabwe," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 23(5), May.
    12. Vivian Polar & Jaqueline A. Ashby & Graham Thiele & Hale Tufan, 2021. "When Is Choice Empowering? Examining Gender Differences in Varietal Adoption through Case Studies from Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Simrin Kafle & Abhinav Vaidya & Bandana Pradhan & Erik Jørs & Sharad Onta, 2021. "Factors Associated with Practice of Chemical Pesticide Use and Acute Poisoning Experienced by Farmers in Chitwan District, Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    14. Faruque-As-Sunny & Zuhui Huang & Taonarufaro Tinaye Pemberai Karimanzira, 2018. "Investigating Key Factors Influencing Farming Decisions Based on Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendation Facilities (STFRF)—A Case Study on Rural Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-24, November.
    15. M. Imran Ganaie & Manzoor A. Wani & Aisha Dev & Ishtiaq A. Mayer, 2022. "Pesticide exposure of farm community causing illness symptoms in upper Jhelum Basin of Kashmir Himalaya, India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(12), pages 13771-13785, December.
    16. Briones, Roehlano M., 2018. "The Wage Gap between Male and Female Agricultural Workers: Analysis and Implications for Gender and Development Policy," Discussion Papers DP 2018-15, Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
    17. Wijdane Rhioui & Jamila Al Figuigui & Rachid Lahlali & Salah-Eddine Laasli & Abdellatif Boutagayout & Moussa El Jarroudi & Saâdia Belmalha, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Vegetable Farming: Exploring Agroecological Alternatives to Chemical Products in the Fez-Meknes Region of Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, April.
    18. Khachaturyan, Marianna & Peterson, E. Wesley F., 2018. "Does Gender Really Matter in Agriculture?," Cornhusker Economics 307033, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    19. Dessy Rachmawatie & Ernan Rustiadi & Akhmad Fauzi & Bambang Juanda, 2021. "Driving Factors of Community Empowerment and Development through Renewable Energy for Electricity in Indonesia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(1), pages 326-332.
    20. Ratana Sapbamrer & Manoch Naksata & Surat Hongsibsong & Jiraporn Chittrakul & Wilawan Chaiut, 2022. "Efficiency of Gum Rosin-Coated Personal Protective Clothing to Protect against Chlorpyrifos Exposure in Applicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6635-:d:1224024. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.