PESTICIDE INDUCED OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG FARMERS IN BELAVANURU VILLAGE OF SOUTH KARNATAKA

*Nazish Fathima, Deepika Mishra, Netra, Jisha Susan Jose and Surya Narayana C.

ABSTRACT

Objectives Inappropriate use of pesticides has greatly increased the risk of occupational exposure and toxicities in farmers. Despite the high prevalence of occupational injuries, severe underreporting made to investigate toxic symptoms in pesticide exposed farm workers and to evaluate their health-related quality of life after pesticide exposure. Methods A community based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of six months. The well-structured questionnaire was developed and data was collected through face-to-face interaction and obtained data was analysed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20 software by applying Chi square test. Keyfindings Out of 239 farmers majority of the farmers cultivated paddy alone and used moderately hazardous pesticide more during cultivation period. As a consequence of pesticide use, skin irritation, sneezing, numbness of hands, eye irritation and fatigue were the occupational injuries which made an impact on health-related quality of life after the pesticide use. Conclusions Although pesticides are used to increase the yield, certain concerned effects of pesticides are hazardous towards environmental and human health. Farmers are at increased risk due to occupational exposure. They must be aware of the toxicity of the pesticides and safe handling of them. In addition, proper training and management of pesticides can be executed by the government in order to create awareness among the farmers regarding the safe and effective use of the pesticides.

Keywords: Pesticide, Occupational injuries, Farmers, Health Related Quality Of Life.