title: Occupational activities associated with a reported history of malaria among women working in small-scale agriculture in South Africa.
abstract: Malaria-endemic agricultural communities are at risk for this disease because of crop and agricultural activities. A cross-sectional survey among women in small-scale agriculture on irrigated and dryland areas in Makhatini Flats, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa explored associations with self-reported history of malaria, including demographics, crop production, and specific agricultural activities. Ninety-eight (15.2%) of 644 women reported malaria while working in agriculture. More women working in drylands than women working in irrigation scheme reported disease (18.4% versus 10.9%; P < 0.05). Working self or family-owned farms (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-5.2), spraying pesticides (PR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4-3.8), cultivating sugar cane (PR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.3), and cultivating cotton and mangoes (PR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.6) were positively associated with a history of malaria while working in agriculture. This study suggests that certain agricultural activities and types of crop production may increase the risk for malaria among women working in small-scale agriculture.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Congella, Durban, South Africa.
authors: Saloshni
authors: S
authors: Naidoo
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: London
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Burdorf
authors: Rajen N
authors: RN
authors: Naidoo
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Kromhout
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010575:Pesticides