ความรู้ ทัศนคติ และการปฏิบัติในการป้องกันการรับสัมผัสสารกำจัดศัตรูพืชของเกษตรกรจังหวัดนครสวรรค์

Juntarawijit C; Vatthanasak A

Authors

Juntarawijit C Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Naresuan University, Thailand
Vatthanasak A Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Naresuan University, Thailand

Keywords:

knowledge, attitude, practice, prevention of pesticide exposure, farmer

Abstract

Objectives To develop a preventive program on pesticide hazards, information on knowledge (K), attitudes (A), and safety work practice (P) of pesticides exposure prevention among farmers is needed. The objectives of this study were to survey the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use among farmers in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, and to identify factors affecting the practice.

Methods This study was a cross-sectional study. Study participants are farmers (rice and other crops, e.g. corn, cassava, sugarcane) in Nakhon Sawan province. The study included only farmers with at least 5 years of working experience and aged over 20 years. Out of 572,593 farmers in the province, 10,646 participants were randomly selected. Besides demographic, data on knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding pesticide use were included in data analysis. The relationship between level of practice of pesticide exposure prevention (low, medium, high) and its related factors was analyzed using ordinal logistic regression.

Results It was found that most of study participants had moderate to high levels of knowledge (59.81%). Most of them did not know that pesticide toxicity was related to chronic diseases, e.g. obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress and depression, and heart disease. Majority of them had a medium score on attitudes (78%), and high score on practice (98%). Good practice was observed among male, those aged 40 years or below, complete high school, having medium and good levels of attitude.

Conclusion Farmers in Nakhon Sawan had a poor score on knowledge on pesticide toxicity but majority of them had a high level on attitude and safety work practice regarding pesticide use. The practice score was significantly associated with gender, age, education, and attitude. Public health organization should provide the farmers with more information on chronic effects of pesticides and support PPE use.

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