Effect of an educational program for farming mothers to protect their children from pesticide exposure

Abstract

Pesticides represent a major environmental hazard. The toxic effects of pesticides are a concern among high risk groups, especially children. Aim: To evaluate the effect of an educational program for farming mothers to protect their children from pesticide exposure. Subjects and method: Quiz-experimental design was used for this study. The study was conducted in general pediatric out- patient clinics at Assuit University Children Hospital. The study subjects included a convenient sample of 60 farming mothers. Two tools were developed by the researchers for data collection. Tool I: Socio- economic scale; it was developed by (Abd El-Twaab 2004). Tool II: Structure interview questionnaire: divided into two parts: Part 1 Questions to assess farming mothers' knowledge about pesticides: Part 11: Questions to assess farming mothers' knowledge about their practice regarding pesticides. Results: the mean age of the mothers was 38.8± 9.7 years. 60% were illiterate, 95% were house wife and farmer, and more than half were in the middle social class. Most of the mothers had poor knowledge and unsatisfactory knowledge about practices in the pretest. Statistically significant differences were detected between mothers' total score of knowledge and their knowledge about practice. Conclusions: Most of the mothers had poor level of knowledge and unsatisfactory knowledge about practice regarding pesticide in preprogram and after implementation of program, the level of mothers 'knowledge and their knowledge about practice improved. Recommendation: Medical conveys in the village for the public about pesticides by the directors of rural health units shared with professors in medicine and nursing in the university. Using mass media to disseminate correct information about pesticides and to increasing the mothers' awareness about its harmful effect on health.