Knowledge and risk perception of rural workers exposed to pesticides in Teixeiras/MG: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Brazil is the world's largest consumer of pesticides since 2009. There is a greater risk of poisoning and death among rural workers exposed to pesticides. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to evaluate knowledge and perception of risk, as well as exposition-related mental health disorders among rural workers in the municipality of Teixeiras, MG. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. The sample consisted of 63 workers exposed to the use of pesticides and 129 not exposed. Data collection took place between March and September 2018. A semi-structured questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) were used. RESULTS: 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 do not use it (66.7% exposed). Among those exposed, most showed signs of depression (BDI: 77.8%; GHQ-12: 54.0%), while the majority among those not exposed did not show (BDI 89.9%; GHQ-12: 82.4%). CONCLUSION: These results are consistent with the scientific literature. The results reinforce the social and labor vulnerability of workers in the exposed group surveyed.

Keywords

• rural population health
• pesticides
• personal protective equipment
• depression