DIFFERENCES IN PRACTICES OF HANDLING ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES (OPS) AND OPS-RELATED SYMPTOMS BETWEEN INDONESIAN AND SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MIGRANT FARMWORKERS: PRE AND POST EDUCATIONAL

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the differences of field practices in handling OPs and the prevalence of OPs-related symptoms among Indonesian and South Australian (SA) migrant farmworkers between pre and post educational intervention. METHOD: This was a quasi-experimental study. Thirty Indonesian farmworkers at Dukuhlo Village, Brebes Regency, Indonesia, were provided the educational intervention using a method of group communication whereas seven migrant farmworkers in Virginia, South Australia were provided the educational intervention individually. Data were collected by interview using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Some significantly behavioural improvements (p OPs application dramatically decreased from 63% in pre intervention to 17% in post intervention; 2) proportions of farmworkers who spraying OPs against wind direction sharply declined from 60% in pre intervention to 30% in post intervention; 3) proportions of farmworkers who avoiding spray drift when applying OPs dramatically rose from 47% in pre intervention to 97% in post intervention; 4) proportions of farmworkers who ensuring to not affect other people by over applied spray drift when applying OPs sharply increased from 53% in pre intervention to 93% in post intervention; and 5) proportions of farmworkers who suffering from OPs-related symptoms slightly decreased from 67% in pre intervention to 63% in post intervention. On the other hand, generally, field practices of SA migrant farmworkers in post educational intervention remained constant as they did in pre intervention. CONCLUSION: Provision of appropriate equipment and long-term educational intervention linked to workplace was needed to improve their knowledge, perceptions, and work practices to reducing adverse effects due to OPs exposure. Keywords: educational intervention; field practices; organophosphate pesticides-related symptoms, Indonesian farmworkers, South Australian migrant farmworkers Normal 0 21 false false false RO X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}