Respiratory syndrome in relation to occupational pesticide exposure among farmworkers: A case study of Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions, Northern Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Owisso Rose Donati | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-07-31T05:23:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-07-31T05:23:33Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-09 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | In developing countries, the use of pesticides has been increasing due to an increase in new pests and diseases. This has resulted in the use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) with the potential of causing health risks including respiratory syndromes and sometimes deaths to humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated three million cases of acute pesticide poisoning and 220,000 deaths annually worldwide. Despite the significance of pesticide exposure to pesticides, studies on long health effects associated with pesticide exposure among the working population are limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A previous study conducted among farmworkers in Arumeru District of Tanzania revealed health problems resulting from Acute Pesticide Poisoning (APP) were related to other diseases such as malaria and pneumonia that lead to misdiagnosis and underreporting of the health challenges resulting from exposure to occupational pesticides. Thus, the current study aimed at investigating the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and respiratory syndromes among farmworkers in Arumeru and Moshi Districts in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. A cross-sectional study involving both semi- structured questionnaire and Key informative interview data collection methods was used to assess the respiratory health challenges experienced by farmworkers when applying either synthesized pesticides or organic inputs to either coffee or flowers farm. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) was used to gain a deeper understanding of the farmworkers’ awareness of occupational exposure to pesticides and organic inputs in relation to the respiratory syndrome. The study participants included both male and female farmworkers of between 18 and 48 years of age working in flower and coffee plantation farms in Arumeru and Moshi Districts. 194 non-organic and 195 organic farmers who were directly engaged in agricultural activities were randomly selected from their farms to participate in the study. Among 389 study participants, 24 farmworkers were purposively selected to participate in the key informative interview (KII). Supporting staff such as Human Resource Officers found in the study farms but not engaged directly in agricultural activities were excluded from this study. adj. OR (95% CI)4.58(1.68, 12.54), 4.74 (1.83, 12.29) and 6.30 (1.29,30.72] . In the KII, it was reported that pesticide mixers and sprayers were using person protective equipment, taking baths and changing clothes after farm work while other farmworkers such as flower pruners, flower graders and coffee pickers were not using protective equipment. The visited coffee organic farm was not equipped with sanitary facilities and farmworkers were not protecting themselves from direct contact with the organic inputs. The results in the quantitative study indicate that pesticide mixers and sprayers in flower farms were significantly associated with cough, rhinitis and wheezing, [ respectively. Moreover, there was a decreasing risk of cough and rhinitis for flower farmworkers taking baths after work, [adj. OR (95% CI) 0.33 (0.16, 0.68) and 0.44(0.26, 0.75)] results showed the association between respiratory syndrome and occupational exposure to pesticides among to chemical pesticides. There was an inconclusive result on Furthermore, non-organic farmworkers who were at high risk of exposure the association between respiratory syndrome and organic inputs given that other causes such as allergies were not investigated. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6343 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Respiratory Syndrome | |
| dc.subject | Relation | |
| dc.subject | Occupational Pesticide | |
| dc.subject | Exposure | |
| dc.subject | Farmworkers | |
| dc.subject | Kilimanjaro | |
| dc.subject | Arusha regions | |
| dc.subject | Northern Tanzania. | |
| dc.title | Respiratory syndrome in relation to occupational pesticide exposure among farmworkers: A case study of Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions, Northern Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |