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Regis Magauzi, Bigboy Mabaera, Simbarashe Rusakaniko, Anderson Chimusoro, Nqobile Ndlovu, Mufuta Tshimanga, Gerald Shambira, Addmore Chadambuka, Notion Gombe. Health effects of agrochemicals among farm workers in commercial farms of Kwekwe district, Zimbabwe, 2006. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2011;9:26 Key words: Organophosphates, cholinesterase activity, pesticide poisoning, agrochemicals, farm workers Permanent link: http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/9/26/full Received: 11/05/2010 - Accepted: 07/07/2011 - Published: 11/07/2011 © Regis Magauzi et al. The Pan African Medical Journal - ISSN 1937-8688. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Health effects of agrochemicals among farm workers in commercial farms of Kwekwe district, Zimbabwe
Regis Magauzi1, Bigboy Mabaera1, Simbarashe Rusakaniko1, Anderson Chimusoro2, Nqobile Ndlovu1, Mufuta Tshimanga1, Gerald Shambira1, Addmore Chadambuka1,&, Notion Gombe1
1Dept of Community Medicine University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2Provincial Medical Directorate, Midlands Province, P.O. Box 206, Gweru, Zimbabwe
&Auteur correspondant
Addmore Chadambuka, Department of Community Medicine University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
Farm workers are at a very high risk of occupational diseases due to exposure to pesticides resulting from inadequate education, training and safety systems. The farm worker spends a lot of time exposed to these harmful agrochemicals. Numerous acute cases with symptoms typical of agrochemical exposure were reported from the commercial farms. We assessed the health effects of agrochemicals in farm workers in commercial farms of Kwekwe District (Zimbabwe), in 2006.
An analytical cross sectional study was conducted amongst a sample of 246 farm workers who handled agrochemicals when discharging their duties in the commercial farms. Plasma cholinesterase activity in blood specimens obtained from farm workers was measured using spectrophotometry to establish levels of poisoning by organophosphate and/or carbamates. Information on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of farm workers on agrochemicals use was collected using a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine factors that were associated with abnormal cholinesterase activity.
The prevalence of organophosphate poisoning, indicated by cholinesterase activity of 75% or less, was 24.1%. The median period of exposure to agrochemicals was 3 years (Q1: = 1 year, Q3: = 7 years). Ninety eight (41.5%) farm workers knew the triangle colour code for the most dangerous agrochemicals. Not being provided with personal protective equipment (OR 2.00; 95% CI: 1.07 – 3.68) and lack of knowledge of the triangle colour code for most dangerous agro-chemicals (OR 2.02; 95% CI: 1.02 – 4.03) were significantly associated with abnormal cholinesterase activity.
There was organophosphate poisoning in the commercial farms. Factors that were significantly associated with the poisoning were lack of protective clothing and lack of knowledge of the triangle colour code for most dangerous agro-chemicals. We recommended intensive health education and training of farm workers on the use of agrochemicals, provision of adequate and proper personal protective equipment as mitigation measures to this problem.
