Abstract:
Background: - Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to increase yielding of crop by
preventing plant and animal pest and other plant pathogens. A significant increase in pesticide
use with poor implementation of pesticide regulation and in adequate knowledge of farmers on
safe pesticide utilization now a days become a great public health concern. This paper assesses
safe pesticide utilization practice of farmers in Guagusa Shikudad District Northwest Ethiopia.
Objective: - The aim of this study is to assess the magnitude of safe pesticide utilization practice
and associated factors among farmers in Guagusa Shikudad district Northwest Ethiopia 2020.
Method: - A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among farmers in Guagusa
Shikudad district from March 07/2020 to May 02/ 2020. A total of 650 farmers who utilize
pesticides for farming were selected using systematic random sampling technique from
registration in kebele manager office. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire was
used to collect the required data from family member (at their home) having experience on
pesticide utilization. Application of face mask, coverall, glove, long boots , disposing of empty
pesticide container safely and body washing after spray were used as safety criteria. Bivariate
(using p-value 0.25 as a cutoff point) and multivariable logistic regression (using p-value 0.05 as
a cutoff point) were applied in analysis to assess the association of factors with dependent
variables.
Results: - A total of 650 farmers were participated in the study (with the response rate of
99.38%) and the overall safe pesticide utilization practice was only 4.5%. the mean (±SD) age of
the respondent was 44.85(11.60) years. Factors associated with safe pesticide handling practice
were history of previous illness [AOR = 5.68, 95% CI (1.56, 20.74], buying full pesticide
container together with friends [AOR = 4.10, 95% CI (1.45, 11.61], using two types of pesticide
at once [AOR = 4.44, 95% CI (1.46, 13.56].
Conclusions: - Very low proportion of farmers in Guagusa Shikudad District were utilize
pesticide safely. There is a need for provision of education and practically supported training for
farmers to have safe pesticide utilization practice
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1. Introduction
1.1Background of the study
It is already known that the number of people living in the world currently is very hig