A cross-sectional study of knowledge and practices related to use of pesticides among vegetable and rice growers in Bangladesh 公开

Clune, Alison Lindsey (2011)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/cj82k767b?locale=zh
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Abstract

A cross-sectional study of knowledge and practices related to use of pesticides among
vegetable and rice growers in Bangladesh
By Alison Clune


Background: Several studies suggest that poor pesticide application practices contribute
to adverse health effects associated with pesticide poisoning.
Purpose: To investigate whether better knowledge of safe pesticide application and
storage is associated with safer application and storage practices among farmers in
Bangladesh.

Methods:
Interviews were conducted with 72 farmers including kitchen gardeners, local
farmers, and city/regional farmers. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect
information about farmers' practices, knowledge, and attitudes about pesticide
application and storage. Practice, knowledge, and attitude scores were used to
summarize questionnaire data. Multiple linear regression and mapping were used to
explore the relationship between knowledge and practice of safe pesticide application and
storage. Informal focus groups were conducted separately to supplement questionnaire
data.

Results:
None of the interviewed farmers had formal training on pesticide application or
storage, and 89% received pesticide application and storage information from other
farmers. A marginally significant association was found between pesticide knowledge
and application and storage practices in the final multiple linear regression model
(p=0.0863). The level of knowledge about such practices was higher and less varied in
southwest districts than in central districts, and the relationship between knowledge and
practice was similarly reflected in the mapping analysis. The association between
pesticide knowledge and practice was about four times greater when a farm was located
in a town compared to a village, municipality, or slum. The strength of association also
increased with the number of pesticide information sources reported by the farmer.
Conversely, farmers who grew beans exhibited a weaker association between pesticide
knowledge and practice than those who did not grow beans, likely because beans require
high pesticide inputs.

Conclusions:
Greater pesticide knowledge may lead to safer application and storage
practices, and the best way to disseminate information about pesticides is through word-
of-mouth.

Recommendations:
Based on these results, it will be possible to develop community-
based training on pesticide application and storage that encourages word-of-mouth
knowledge dissemination to mitigate occupational hazards associated with pesticide
application and storage.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1
II. METHODS ..................................................................................................... 8
a. Hypothesis..................................................................................................... 8
b. Data collection .............................................................................................. 8
c. Data analysis ............................................................................................... 12
III. RESULTS .................................................................................................... 15
a. Descriptive statistics ..................................................................................... 15
b. Bivariate analyses ......................................................................................... 18
c. Multiple linear regression ................................................................................ 19
d. Focus Groups ............................................................................................... 22
IV. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 25
a. Major findings ............................................................................................... 25
b. Notable minor findings .................................................................................... 32
c. Limitations ................................................................................................... 33
V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................ 35
VI. REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 39
VII. TABLES AND FIGURES................................................................................... 44
VIII.APPENDIX 1: GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATION ....... 67
IX. APPENDIX 2: SCORING ASSIGNMENT PROCEDURE ............................................... 73
X. APPENDIX 3: SUPPLEMENTAL TABLES AND FIGURES ............................................. 84
XI. APPENDIX 4: MODEL BUILDING PROCESS ......................................................... 106

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