Household biocide use and personal safety practices among rural population in South India: A community-based study.
BACKGROUND
Household pesticides (biocides) are widely used for the purpose of controlling vector-borne diseases. Exposure to biocides causes various health hazards in human beings. Prevalence of biocide use, storage methods, and personal protection measures while handling biocides are not known among rural households in South India.


METHODS
A communitybased cross-sectional study was conducted among 416 households in rural Puducherry (union territory). Information on household biocide use, frequency of use, storage and personal safety practices were captured using pretested questionnaire. Continuous variables like age are summarized by mean and standard deviation. Categorical variables like gender, education, a type of a house, biocide usage and related handling practices are summarized as proportions.


RESULTS
Majority (85%) of the households reported presence of at least 1 biocide. Mosquito liquidizer was the most commonly used biocide (45%) followed by mosquito coil (31%), ant powder (30%) and ant chalk (20%). Protection measures against the majority of used biocides were used only in few households and no personal protection measures were used while handling mosquito coil, mat, ant chalk and rat powder.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of household biocide use is high in the study setting. Storage, handling and post handling practices were not sufficient to protect health. Med Pr 2016;67(5):599-604.
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine). karthikbalajee@ymail.com.
Karthik Balajee
KB
Laksham
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine). vinob4u@gmail.com.
Vinothkumar
V
Kalidoss
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine). parthibane42@gmail.com.
Parthibane
P
Sivanantham
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine). murthydsp.88@gmail.com.
Perumal Murthy
PM
Sambath
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine). mk170392@gmail.com.
Manoj Kumar
MK
Arunachalam
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine). palaniccm@gmail.com.
Palanivel
P
Chinnakali
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004202:Disinfectants
India; biocide use; handling practice; hygiene; insecticide; safety