Pesticide Safety Awareness among Rural Farmers in Dadinkowa, Gombe State, Nigeria

Haruna Musa Moda (), Daniel Mensah Anang, Newton Moses, Felix Mandoli Manjo, Victoria Ibukun Joshua, Nwadike Christopher, Paulina Doka and Mela Danjin
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Haruna Musa Moda: Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BG, UK
Daniel Mensah Anang: Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BG, UK
Newton Moses: Department of Horticultural Technology, Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa 761121, Gombe State, Nigeria
Felix Mandoli Manjo: Department of Public Health, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jos 760251, Gombe State, Nigeria
Victoria Ibukun Joshua: Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal College of Forestry, Jos 930253, Gombe State, Nigeria
Nwadike Christopher: Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal College of Forestry, Jos 930253, Gombe State, Nigeria
Paulina Doka: Department of Public Health, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jos 760251, Gombe State, Nigeria
Mela Danjin: Department of Public Health, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jos 760251, Gombe State, Nigeria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-10

Abstract: Introduction: Because of the longer growing season and warmer climate, weeds and insect pests spread are on the rise, thereby increasing the demand for pesticide use and consequently harmful emissions that further exacerbate climate change. Unsafe occupational exposure to pesticide residue is associated with a lack of product knowledge and safety awareness among farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted for this study in which a face-to-face administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 285 respondents who were selected using convenient snowball sampling technique. Knowledge, awareness, and practices related to pesticide storage, handling, application, and containers disposal among the farmers were measured. Categorical variables were analysed and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency count and percentage, while numeric items were summarized using mean and standard deviation. Results: Dichlorvos and Perfekthion 2.5 EC listed in the WHO Group I pesticide classification were among the most frequently used pesticides. Symptoms of pesticide intoxication reported include headaches (56.1%), dizziness (56.5%), skin irritation (53.3%), and fatigue (45.6%), respectively. Farmers’ behaviour during pesticide application include blowing clogged nozzle with mouth (42.7%), talking while spraying (59.8%), and mixing pesticide with bare hands (31.1%). Furthermore, 38.5% of them use pesticide containers for other domestic purposes. Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors, i.e., educational level, age, and years of farm practice, influenced farmers safety behaviour. Based on these findings, an approach that will help strengthen capacity building programmes and the enhancement of knowledge-based initiatives around the adoption of non-synthetic pest-control methods should be encouraged.

Keywords: low- and middle-income countries; pesticide exposure; safety awareness; public health; pesticide poisoning; rural farmers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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