Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024)

Füsun Yalçın; İlayda Betül Ceren

doi:10.54287/gujsa.1886255

Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024)

Abstract

Numerous studies conducted worldwide have highlighted the harmful effects of excessive pesticide use in weed control on human health. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between pesticide use levels and infant number of deaths in different provinces of Türkiye. Pesticide use reports from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for the years 2020 and 2024, and infant mortality data by province from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) were used. The analysis of the data was conducted utilising SPSS, Jamovi, and Jasp software. Spearman's correlation analysis was employed to ascertain the statistical relationship between the data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant, and the findings were visualised by creating geographic maps using QGIS and GeoDa software to demonstrate spatial overlap. The analyses revealed a moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation between pesticide use at the provincial level and all infant mortality periods in both years examined. Geographic distribution maps demonstrated that the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Southeastern Anatolia regions, where pesticide use was most intensive, also exhibited the highest infant mortality rates, thereby providing spatial evidence for this correlation. An examination of the four-year period reveals a concurrent increase in pesticide utilisation and a decrease in infant number of deaths. The significant positive correlation obtained indicates that environmental pesticide exposure, along with other determinants such as socioeconomic status, is a potential risk factor contributing to infant mortality.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No supporting organization exists.

Ethical Statement

An ethics statement is not required.

Thanks

It is not necessary to express gratitude.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Statistical Analysis, Spatial Statistics, Applied Statistics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Füsun Yalçın
0000-0002-2669-1044
Türkiye

İlayda Betül Ceren ^*
0009-0009-7652-6344
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

February 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1886255

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA24FK68PX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yalçın, F., & Ceren, İ. B. (2026). Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024). Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation, 13(2), 628-648. https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1886255

AMA

1.Yalçın F, Ceren İB. Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024). GU J Sci, Part A. 2026;13(2):628-648. doi:10.54287/gujsa.1886255

Chicago

Yalçın, Füsun, and İlayda Betül Ceren. 2026. “Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024)”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation 13 (2): 628-48. https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1886255.

EndNote

Yalçın F, Ceren İB (June 1, 2026) Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024). Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation 13 2 628–648.

IEEE

[1]F. Yalçın and İ. B. Ceren, “Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024)”, GU J Sci, Part A, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 628–648, June 2026, doi: 10.54287/gujsa.1886255.

ISNAD

Yalçın, Füsun - Ceren, İlayda Betül. “Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024)”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation 13/2 (June 1, 2026): 628-648. https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1886255.

JAMA

1.Yalçın F, Ceren İB. Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024). GU J Sci, Part A. 2026;13:628–648.

MLA

Yalçın, Füsun, and İlayda Betül Ceren. “Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024)”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation, vol. 13, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 628-4, doi:10.54287/gujsa.1886255.

Vancouver

1.Füsun Yalçın, İlayda Betül Ceren. Examining the Relationship Between Pesticide Use Levels and Infant Mortality: Correlational and Spatial Analysis by Province (2020–2024). GU J Sci, Part A. 2026 Jun. 1;13(2):628-4. doi:10.54287/gujsa.1886255