Perceptions of young people florists pesticide use. A gender approach

Abstract

Background: The municipality of Villa Guerrero, Mexico has been characterized in the past 2 decades, floriculture growth, while the use of large quantities of pesticides. Given the lack of opportunities to study and work, more and more young people working in the flower grow, both at home and in companies where working conditions generally are not appropriate to the use of pesticides. Aims: Identify factors that influence risk perception that young people have to pesticides, from a gender perspective Methods: A mixed study was conducted integrating quantitative methodology with a questionnaire and qualitative method using focus groups (one male, one female and one male and female) was analyzed as the idea of ??risk structure and shape to perceive, from a gender perspective. Statistical analysis was by multiple regression model and the qualitative semiotic, was integrated through data triangulation. Results: Youth with regular programs of health education, have an attitude toward risk in a way that we have called "arrogance informative", understood as a behavior that gives "identity" to youngpeople and makes feel that "as they know, nothing happens to them"and therefore they don't wear protective gear and make risky activities without it. Furthermore, due to age, men are structuring their masculinity, so they have a higher risk-taking behavior than women, who are building their femininity. This manifests itself in a different exposure by sex, since men are more exposed than women, who only help men at work Finally, it is reported that the only risk is perceived as "having no money", because according to them "having money could also cure the pesticides effects". Conclusion: Due to the process of construction of masculinity, men engaged in higher risk than women. In addition, young people perceive as a higher risk not having a job that the use of pesticides, "if they have a job then you have money," and money is more important than health.