OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of usage, unsafe practices and risk perception regarding household pesticides in a rural community of Tamil Nadu, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey we used a pre-tested questionnaire and trained interviewers to collect information on household pesticide use for the past 6 months from any adult member of randomly selected households. RESULTS: Out of 143 households, 95% used at least one household pesticide (95% CI: 93.5-99.5) and 94% used at least one household pesticide specifically for mosquito control. The most commonly used pesticides were mosquito coils (75%), mosquito liquid vaporizers (36%), ant-killing powder (24%) and moth/naphthalene balls (18%). The major non-chemical methods of pest control were rat traps (12%) and mosquito bed nets (7.5%). Out of the mosquito coil users, 61% kept the windows and doors closed while the coil was burning. Out of the moth ball users, 88% left them in the place of use till they fully vaporized. Nearly half of the users did not know that household pesticides were harmful to their health and the health of their children. CONCLUSIONS: The use of household pesticides was highly prevalent in this rural community. The prevalence of unsafe practices while handling them was also high. We recommend that the users of household pesticides be educated about the health hazards and about safe practices and non-chemical methods of pest control be promoted.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of usage, unsafe practices and risk perception regarding household pesticides in a rural community of Tamil Nadu, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey we used a pre-tested questionnaire and trained interviewers to collect information on household pesticide use for the past 6 months from any adult member of randomly selected households. RESULTS: Out of 143 households, 95% used at least one household pesticide (95% CI: 93.5-99.5) and 94% used at least one household pesticide specifically for mosquito control. The most commonly used pesticides were mosquito coils (75%), mosquito liquid vaporizers (36%), ant-killing powder (24%) and moth/naphthalene balls (18%). The major non-chemical methods of pest control were rat traps (12%) and mosquito bed nets (7.5%). Out of the mosquito coil users, 61% kept the windows and doors closed while the coil was burning. Out of the moth ball users, 88% left them in the place of use till they fully vaporized. Nearly half of the users did not know that household pesticides were harmful to their health and the health of their children. CONCLUSIONS: The use of household pesticides was highly prevalent in this rural community. The prevalence of unsafe practices while handling them was also high. We recommend that the users of household pesticides be educated about the health hazards and about safe practices and non-chemical methods of pest control be promoted.
Authors: Peter D Sly; Brittany Trottier; David Carpenter; Ubon Cha'on; Stephania Cormier; Betsy Galluzzo; Samayita Ghosh; Fiona Goldizen; Michelle Heacock; Paul Jagals; Hari Datt Joshi; Prachi Kathuria; Le Thai Ha; Melina S Magsumbol; Panida Navasumrit; Poornima Prabhakaran; Banalata Sen; Chris Skelly; Inoka Suraweera; Sathiarany Vong; Chador Wangdi; William A Suk Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2019-02-25 Impact factor: 2.462
Authors: Anna Maria van Eijk; Lalitha Ramanathapuram; Patrick L Sutton; Nandini Peddy; Sandhya Choubey; Stuti Mohanty; Aswin Asokan; Sangamithra Ravishankaran; G Sri Lakshmi Priya; Justin Amala Johnson; Sangeetha Velayutham; Deena Kanagaraj; Ankita Patel; Nisha Desai; Nikunj Tandel; Steven A Sullivan; Samuel C Wassmer; Ranveer Singh; K Pradhan; Jane M Carlton; H C Srivasatava; Alex Eapen; S K Sharma Journal: Parasit Vectors Date: 2016-07-27 Impact factor: 3.876