Quasi-Experimental Study on Pesticide Usage among Farm Workers in Rural South India: A Methodology Paper
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/0rxzrv33Keywords:
pesticide safety, educational intervention, farm workers, knowledge, attitude and practice assessment, rural south India, methodologyAbstract
Synthetic pesticides are commonly used in agriculture to manage pests and protect crop yields. However, improper handling and use of these chemicals pose significant risks to farm workers, leading to health hazards and even fatalities. This methodology paper outlines a project aimed at assessing the awareness, attitude, and practices of farm workers regarding the safe usage of pesticides in rural south India and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to improve safety. A quasi-experimental pre and post-test will be used to evaluate the knowledge, attitude of farm workers and their practice of handling pesticides in their daily life following an educational intervention for a period of 6 months. The study will involve a baseline assessment through questionnaires, followed by the development and implementation of an educational intervention through a targeted educational module tailored to the identified knowledge and practice gaps. The module will then be implemented in workshops, and its effectiveness will be measured through pre- and post-intervention assessments. The ultimate goal is to promote safer pesticide handling practices and improve farm workers' overall awareness and attitudes toward pesticide safety.This paper describes the methodology in detail and submits results of the pilot study conducted using the developed questionnaire.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Rachel Immanuel, Benjy Tom Varughese, Daniel Manoj, Latif Rajesh Johnson, Ranjit Immanuel James, Tareen Jacob, Mousumi Sen, Biswajit Paul
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