Pesticide Exposure Factors Related To Neurological Symptoms In Farmers Spraying Pesticides

Abstract

Farmers use pesticides to avoid crop failure due to pest attacks. One of the bad effects of pesticides on health is that it can cause neurological symptoms. This study aims to determine the factor of pesticide exposure related to neurological symptoms in spraying farmers in the agricultural area of ​​Sembalun Lawang, East Lombok district. This research is an observational study with a cross-sectional approach and conducted by interview. The research variables consisted of pesticide dose, spraying frequency, type of pesticide, duration of spraying, working period, and use of PPE and spraying position. Data were analyzed by univariate, bivariate using chi-square test and multivariate using multiple logistic regression analysis. Pesticide exposure factors that have been shown to have a relationship with neurological symptoms include working period (p-value= 0.026), length of spraying (p-value= 0.025), frequency of spraying (p-value= 0.034), pesticide dose ( p-value= 0.005 ), type of pesticide (p-value= 0.011) and completeness of PPE (p-value= 0.021). The variable that was proven to have the most dominant effect on neurological symptoms was the type of pesticide (OR=5.077, p-value=0.004).