Determining the Association Between Pesticide Safety Behaviors and Health Literacy of Farmers Registered in WhatsApp Groups of Antalya Provincial Agriculture and Forest Directorate: A Descriptive-Correlational Study

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 48 - 55, 28.03.2025

Dilek Ayaz , Selma Öncel

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1383819

Abstract

Objectives: Pesticide use safety practices are essential in preventing pesticide exposure risk. Health literacy should be at a sufficient level to acquire these safety practices. This study aimed to determine the association between pesticide safety practices and health literacy of farmers registered in the WhatsApp groups of the Antalya Provincial Agriculture and Forest Directorate.
Method: The sample of this descriptive-correlational study consisted of 221 farmers registered in Whatsapp groups belonging to five districts of Antalya. Research data were collected between March and August 2022 using an online Pesticide Safety Behaviors and Health Literacy Google form. Descriptive statistics, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, and Pearson Correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data.
Results: There was a high positive correlation between pesticide safety behaviors and health literacy mean scores of farmers (r=.844, p<.01). According to the multiple linear regression results, the most significant variables affecting pesticide safety behavior were, respectively, training on pesticide use (β=0.426), higher levels of education (β=0.347), female gender (β=0.195), and older age (β=0.110). Health literacy was affected by higher levels of education (β=0.591), female gender (β=0.340), and employment status (β=0.088).
Conclusion: The study group showed adequate pesticide safety behaviors and health literacy levels. The most crucial factor in exhibiting safe behaviors was receiving training on pesticides. Higher levels of education level and female gender positively affected both variables. To minimize the risk of pesticide exposure for farmers., it was recommended to plan community-based participatory training interventions and raise awareness by making cross-sectoral cooperation.

Keywords

Farmworkers , pesticide exposure , health literacy , public health nursing

Ethical Statement

Ethical consent was obtained from the Akdeniz University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Number:70904504/829, Date:21.12.2021), and informed consent was obtained from participants. The Antalya Provincial Agriculture and Forest Directorate granted institutional permission.

Supporting Institution

No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.

Thanks

We would like to thank all participants involved in the study and Antalya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.

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