Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, P. O. Box: 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Nov 28;24(1):3313. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20817-x.
The increasing use of pesticides has become a global public health concern. The problem is more devastating in developing countries, which deters the implementation of effective intervention strategies. Moreover, the existing evidences are inconsistent and not comprehensive. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pooled pesticide safe use practices and acute health symptoms, and identify factors among farmers in developing countries.
A comprehensive search using databases such as PubMed, HINARI, Google Scholar, and Epistemonikos, as well as grey literature, was searched up to June 30, 2023. The updated preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines were used. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel, and it was exported to STATA 14/SE software for analysis. The Joanna Briggs Institute's quality appraisal tool was used to assure the quality of the included articles. A random-effects model was used during analysis. The funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to assess the publication bias, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effect of a single study.
The pooled pesticide safe use practice was 43.1% (95% CI: 31.01-55.2), and the prevalence of acute health symptoms was 30.36% (95% CI: 19.61-41.1). Farmers with good knowledge (OR = 3.83, 95% CI: 2.36-5.29), good attitudes (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.46-2.86), being educated (OR = 5.11, 95% CI: 2.96-7.26), and having more than five years of experience (OR = 6.13, 95% CI: 2.56-9.71) were found to be the identified factors associated with pesticide safe use practice.
This study highlighted a significant gap in pesticide safe use practices and a high prevalence of acute health symptoms among farmers. Therefore, comprehensive intervention measures such as providing educational and safety training programs are required for pesticide users among farmers.
农药使用量的增加已成为全球公共卫生关注的问题。在发展中国家，这个问题更加严重，阻碍了有效干预策略的实施。此外，现有的证据并不一致，也不全面。因此，本研究旨在确定发展中国家农民中农药安全使用实践和急性健康症状的综合情况，并确定相关因素。
使用 PubMed、HINARI、Google Scholar 和 Epistemonikos 等数据库以及灰色文献进行全面搜索，检索时间截至 2023 年 6 月 30 日。使用更新的系统评价和荟萃分析指南的首选报告项目进行数据提取，并使用 Microsoft Excel 导出到 STATA 14/SE 软件进行分析。使用 Joanna Briggs 研究所的质量评估工具确保纳入文章的质量。分析中使用随机效应模型。使用漏斗图和 Egger 回归检验评估发表偏倚，并进行敏感性分析以评估单个研究的影响。
农药安全使用实践的综合发生率为 43.1%（95%CI：31.01-55.2），急性健康症状的发生率为 30.36%（95%CI：19.61-41.1）。具有良好知识（OR=3.83，95%CI：2.36-5.29）、良好态度（OR=2.16，95%CI：1.46-2.86）、受过教育（OR=5.11，95%CI：2.96-7.26）和具有超过五年经验（OR=6.13，95%CI：2.56-9.71）的农民被认为是与农药安全使用实践相关的因素。
本研究强调了农民中农药安全使用实践存在显著差距和急性健康症状高发的问题。因此，需要为农民中的农药使用者提供全面的教育和安全培训计划等综合干预措施。
