The health impact of pesticide use in Lao farmers / Lao Medical Journal

ABSTRACT

Background and Rational@#WHO reported that 735,000 people suffering from chronic disease due to pesticide use. However, no study has been conducted to assess this health burden in the Lao PDR. Therefore, no appropriate strategy was implemented even though pesticide is widely used in Lao PDR. @*Objective@#To study the health impact amongst farmers utilizing pesticides for agriculture in Vientiane Capital.@*Methodology@#The cross-sectional study was conducted in farmers using pesticides. The total number included in the study was 247 people in Hadsayfong and Xaythany Districts. The data were collected from April to June 2017. The data were analysed using Stata version xx. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the health impact and pesticide use.@*Result@#We found that farmers are less educated and used pesticides incorrectly. The proportion of people having small and moderate symptoms were 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively. The factors associated with having symptoms were larger household size (Adjusted Odd Ratio =1.9; 95%CI= 1.0-3.6; P-value = 0.02), using pesticide longer than 3 hours each occasion (AOR=4.8; 95%CI= 2.6-8.9; P-value < 0.001), and using pesticide more than 8 times per month (AOR=0.5; 95%CI= 0.2-1; P-value = 0.01). Significant factors associated with not having symptoms included using materials to stir pesticide (AOR=0.5; 95%CI= 0.2-1; P-value=0.002) and wearing masks during pesticide spraying (AOR=0.4; 95%CI= 0.2-0.7; P-value=0.004).@*Conclusion and recommendation@#The study found that the knowledge of farmers towards pesticide’s side effects was mostly low with incorrect use. Without any appropriate education, farmers risk of suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer and dermatological diseases.