Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Knowledge and risk perception of rural workers exposed to pesticides in a Brazilian Municipality/MG
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Knowledge and risk perception of rural workers exposed to pesticides in a Brazilian Municipality/MG
Knowledge and risk perception of rural workers exposed to pesticides in a Brazilian Municipality/MG
Subject
Knowledge, risk perception , rural workers, pesticides, Brazilian Municipality
Description
Brazil is the world’s largest consumer of pesticides since 2009.
There is an increase in cases of poisoning and death by pesticides
among rural workers despite underreporting and the increasing of
new pesticides used. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, with
the objective of evaluating the knowledge and perception of risk, as
well as indicators of mental health disorders related to the use of
pesticides in rural workers in a Brazilian municipality, located in the
State of Minas Gerais. The sample consisted of 192 workers of which
63 were exposed to the use of pesticides and 129 not exposed. Data collection took place between March and September 2018. A semi-
structured questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) scales were used.
Most respondents understand that pesticides are poisons (71.4%
exposed and 89.0% not exposed). They know what personal protective
equipment (PPE) is (65.0% exposed and 50.4% not exposed), but they
do not use it (66.7% exposed). Among the exposed, the majority
presented signs of depression and minor psychiatric disorders,
respectively (BDI: 77.8%; GHQ-12: 54.0%), while the majority among
the unexposed did not show signs (BDI 89.9%; GHQ-12: 82 .4%).
The results reflected the reality of workers in Brazilian agriculture,
being consistent with the literature. The study indicates the need to
develop public policies aimed at protecting the health of Brazilian
rural workers, especially those working on small and medium-sized
rural properties.
There is an increase in cases of poisoning and death by pesticides
among rural workers despite underreporting and the increasing of
new pesticides used. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, with
the objective of evaluating the knowledge and perception of risk, as
well as indicators of mental health disorders related to the use of
pesticides in rural workers in a Brazilian municipality, located in the
State of Minas Gerais. The sample consisted of 192 workers of which
63 were exposed to the use of pesticides and 129 not exposed. Data collection took place between March and September 2018. A semi-
structured questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) scales were used.
Most respondents understand that pesticides are poisons (71.4%
exposed and 89.0% not exposed). They know what personal protective
equipment (PPE) is (65.0% exposed and 50.4% not exposed), but they
do not use it (66.7% exposed). Among the exposed, the majority
presented signs of depression and minor psychiatric disorders,
respectively (BDI: 77.8%; GHQ-12: 54.0%), while the majority among
the unexposed did not show signs (BDI 89.9%; GHQ-12: 82 .4%).
The results reflected the reality of workers in Brazilian agriculture,
being consistent with the literature. The study indicates the need to
develop public policies aimed at protecting the health of Brazilian
rural workers, especially those working on small and medium-sized
rural properties.
Creator
Luiz Sérgio Silva, Tarcísio Márcio Magalhães Pinheiro, Helian Nunes de Oliveira, Sílvia Almeida Cardoso, Alessandro Custódio Dias
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
January 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Files
Citation
Luiz Sérgio Silva, Tarcísio Márcio Magalhães Pinheiro, Helian Nunes de Oliveira, Sílvia Almeida Cardoso, Alessandro Custódio Dias, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Knowledge and risk perception of rural workers exposed to pesticides in a Brazilian Municipality/MG,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 26, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2357.
Knowledge and risk perception of rural workers exposed to pesticides in a Brazilian Municipality/MG,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 26, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2357.