Pesticide Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in the Study of Asian Women, their Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures: The Sawasdee Birth Cohort Study in Northern Thailand

Abstract

The use of pesticides for crop production has grown in developing nations, especially in Thailand. As a result, agricultural workers are exposed to higher concentrations of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides than other developed nations. The Study of Asian Women and Offspring’s Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE) is a maternal occupational exposure study focused on analyzing maternal pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment in the children. We will enroll 300 pregnant women from the Chom Thong and Fang regions; these two regions are to be indicative of chronic and acute exposure. For this analysis, we focused on evaluating the pesticide knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among participants. Of all individuals enrolled (N=134), 27% reported receiving training about pesticides. Significant associations were observed between an individual’s knowledge of potential harm to the fetus from spraying pesticide in their homes and their educational attainment (p=0.006, Fisher’s exact test) as well as the region they live in (p=0.03, Fisher’s exact test). Educational attainment was also associated with overall understanding of the purpose for pesticides including whether pesticides protect people from pest-related diseases (p=0.039, Fisher’s exact test). Women who had at least some high school education had the strongest attitude or perceived risk of pesticides. Individuals appeared to understand potential illnesses related to pesticide exposure but do not have a clear understanding of the idea of vulnerable populations. In analyzing the organophosphate and pyrethroid biomarker data, we will need to consider these differences. The findings of this analysis suggest the need to educate agricultural workers to mitigate risk. Furthermore, our results warrant further investigation of knowledge, attitudes, and perceived risks in the context of biomarkers of pesticide exposures.