Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the prevention behaviors to pesticide exposure in seasonal agricultural workers. This is a cross-sectional study in 312 seasonal agricultural workers lives in the tent regions that accepted to participate to the research in the period of intensive agricultural work in 2015. In the study, a questionnaire consisting of questions about sociodemographic characteristics and pesticide exposure prevention behaviors of seasonal agricultural workers was used. Seasonal agricultural workers expressed that; 43 (13.8%) of them had trained about pesticides, 168 (53.8%) of them had worked in the pesticide applied area and 235 (75.3%) of them had been using personal prevention equipment to prevent against pesticide exposure. There were 150 (48.1%) seasonal agricultural workers were wearing to be exposed to pesticide. Participants aged 39 and lower (78.7%) found to be wearing clothes that exposure to more pesticide than those in the age group of 40 and over (21.3%). There were 246 (78.8%) people who take off the clothes they were applying pesticide when they came home. It was seen that, persons living in the village (57.3%) take off the clothes they were applying pesticide when they come to the tent, were more than those living in the province / district (42.7%). It was found that seasonal agricultural workers did not get enough training on safe pesticide use and their pesticide exposure prevention behaviors were not sufficient. It has been concluded that employees in agriculture must be gain safe pesticide use behavior and training programs should be organized for the prevention and development of their health.

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