Factors associated with pesticide safety practices in farmworkers.
BACKGROUND
Farmworkers and their families are exposed to pesticides through multiple pathways. Few studies have examined the frequency with which farmworkers engage in pesticide safety practices and the factors associated with their adoption.


METHODS
Using a large sample of farmworkers (n = 554), we evaluated relationships between pesticide safety behaviors and farmworkers' beliefs, training history, handling of pesticides at work, perceived occupational exposure, and employers' provision of personal protective equipment.


RESULTS
Performing behaviors at work was determined largely by whether personal protective equipment was provided. For home behaviors, female gender, living in a labor camp, being trained in the last 5 years, handling pesticides directly, and not perceiving organizational barriers to protecting oneself were associated with taking more precautions.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings call for interventions that involve and engage multiple stakeholders to increase adoption of pesticide safety behaviors and reduce pesticide exposure in farmworkers.
Strong
Larkin L
LL
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, USA. LLstrong@umich.edu
Thompson
Beti
B
Koepsell
Thomas D
TD
Meischke
Hendrika
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010575:Pesticides; D011482:Protective Devices; D014861:Washington
D010575:Pesticides