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Our farmers at risk: behaviour and belief system in pesticide safety.
J Public Health (Oxf). 2006 Mar; 28(1):43-8.JP

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The study was done in three villages in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It surveys farmers' belief system and pesticide practices relative to health and safety.

METHODS

Initially it used a simulated market study on willingness to pay for personal protective equipment in the form of gloves and masks. Then a combination of semi-structured, formal, informal, and key-informant interviews, as well as focus groups, and field observations was done intermittently in a span of approximately 12 years.

RESULTS

The farmers perceive illness in terms of inability to function. Pesticide to them may not be a threat because (i) they are immune, (ii) it is regarded as a medicine that is needed by the plants rather than poison, and (iii) exposure is only through inhalation and ingestion not through dermal contact. Added to that, they put value on pasma, and try to prevent it at the cost of exposure to pesticides. These perceptions lead to their practices showing inadequate protection.

CONCLUSION

There is the need for more health education programs that tap farmers' belief system and cognitive categories to stress the need for precautions.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Palis FG
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Laguna, Philippines. f.palis@cgiar.org
Flor RJ
No affiliation info available
Warburton H
No affiliation info available
Hossain M
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Agricultural Workers' DiseasesAgricultureFemaleFinancing, PersonalGloves, ProtectiveHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMalePesticidesPhilippinesProtective ClothingRisk-TakingSafetySocial Perception

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

16436451

Clinical Trial Links

Farming, Personal Protective Equipment, Nepal

Citation

Palis, Florencia G., et al. "Our Farmers at Risk: Behaviour and Belief System in Pesticide Safety." Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England), vol. 28, no. 1, 2006, pp. 43-8.
Palis FG, Flor RJ, Warburton H, et al. Our farmers at risk: behaviour and belief system in pesticide safety. J Public Health (Oxf). 2006;28(1):43-8.
Palis, F. G., Flor, R. J., Warburton, H., & Hossain, M. (2006). Our farmers at risk: behaviour and belief system in pesticide safety. Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England), 28(1), 43-8.
Palis FG, et al. Our Farmers at Risk: Behaviour and Belief System in Pesticide Safety. J Public Health (Oxf). 2006;28(1):43-8. PubMed PMID: 16436451.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Our farmers at risk: behaviour and belief system in pesticide safety. AU - Palis,Florencia G, AU - Flor,Rica Joy, AU - Warburton,Hilary, AU - Hossain,Mahabub, Y1 - 2006/01/25/ PY - 2006/1/27/pubmed PY - 2006/7/20/medline PY - 2006/1/27/entrez SP - 43 EP - 8 JF - Journal of public health (Oxford, England) JO - J Public Health (Oxf) VL - 28 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: The study was done in three villages in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It surveys farmers' belief system and pesticide practices relative to health and safety. METHODS: Initially it used a simulated market study on willingness to pay for personal protective equipment in the form of gloves and masks. Then a combination of semi-structured, formal, informal, and key-informant interviews, as well as focus groups, and field observations was done intermittently in a span of approximately 12 years. RESULTS: The farmers perceive illness in terms of inability to function. Pesticide to them may not be a threat because (i) they are immune, (ii) it is regarded as a medicine that is needed by the plants rather than poison, and (iii) exposure is only through inhalation and ingestion not through dermal contact. Added to that, they put value on pasma, and try to prevent it at the cost of exposure to pesticides. These perceptions lead to their practices showing inadequate protection. CONCLUSION: There is the need for more health education programs that tap farmers' belief system and cognitive categories to stress the need for precautions. SN - 1741-3842 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/16436451/Our_farmers_at_risk:_behaviour_and_belief_system_in_pesticide_safety_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -