Vulnerable groups and protective habits associated with the number of symptoms caused by pesticide application in Kratie, Cambodia: a cross-sectional questionnaire study

Yurie Kobashi; Lihorn Srou; Masaharu Tsubokura; Yoshitaka Nishikawa; Ngy Laymithuna; Songhy Hok; Manabu Okawada

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Vulnerable groups and protective habits associated with the number of symptoms caused by pesticide application in Kratie, Cambodia: a cross-sectional questionnaire study

VernacularTitle:Vulnerable groups and protective habits associated with the number of symptoms caused by pesticide application in Kratie, Cambodia: a cross-sectional questionnaire study
Author: Yurie KOBASHI ¹ ; Lihorn SROU ² ; Masaharu TSUBOKURA ³ ; Yoshitaka NISHIKAWA ⁴ ; Ngy LAYMITHUNA ⁵ ; Songhy HOK ¹ ; Manabu OKAWADA ⁶
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1. Sunrise Japan Hospital Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2. Cambodia International School, Cambodia
3. Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
4. Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan
5. University of Kratie, Cambodia
6. Department of Pediatrics, Sunrise Japan Hospital Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Keywords: farmworker; vulnerable groups; occupational health; Cambodia
From:Journal of Rural Medicine 2022;17(4):214-220
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: Objective: The present study aimed to identify pesticide poisoning symptoms and related protective habits to effectively prevent pesticide poisoning among farmworkers in Kratie, Cambodia, where pesticide poisoning is an urgent public health problem.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire survey analyzing social demographics, number of symptoms, and protective behavior regarding pesticide application was conducted in Kratie Province from January 25 to 31, 2021. In total, 210 farmworkers completed the survey. The effects of social demographics and pesticide-protective behavioral scores on the number of symptoms were investigated using multivariable regression analysis.Results: The observed number of symptoms was 1.16 times higher among women (P=0.004), increased with the duration of work, and decreased with age. In addition, we identified five significant pesticide-protective behaviors: 1) preparing using gloves, 2) using protective equipment, 3) avoiding wiping sweat, 4) avoiding leaking, and 5) resting when feeling ill. Pesticide-protective behaviors tended to decrease with the duration of working years in the low-education group (B=−0.04, SE=0.01), whereas no association was observed in the high-education group (B=0.01, SE=0.01).Conclusion: Pesticide-protective behaviors significantly correlated with fewer symptoms. The female and aging groups required continuous special education or instructions for implementing pesticide-protective actions, especially the aforementioned five protective actions.