A commentary on occupational infectious diseases due to agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Occupational diseases associated with agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan Africa have a major health impact on farmers, farm workers and their families. This leads to reduced productivity through decreased human and livestock resource and places an additional burden on health care requirements in already poor areas. An in-depth knowledge of the various diseases and potential risks associated with farming in SSA could provide insights on effective control measures. This paper presents a review of infectious disease in farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa likely to have been contracted as a result of farming practices. The following are considered: Sources, modes of transmission, incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Infections have been classified into those of bacterial, parasitological, mycological and virological origin. The literature indicates that 80% of cases of occupational diseases due to farming with high morbidity and mortality are from helminths, protozoa and bacterial infections. More effective reporting of disease, risk awareness and appropriate intervention methods, are required to tackle the occurrence of occupational diseases amongst farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.