Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

Table 1. Relation between information revealed in the research and
education processes of the project.
Research component revealed Education component revealed
Lack of protection of the face and feet
because it is "bothersome."
Incorrect preventative or first-aid
measures, e.g., not bathing immediately
after finishing work.
The custom of drinking lemonade or milk
after spraying because "it makes me feel
good" or "because I always do it."
Sources of information are most often, "I
learned by myself," but occasionally, "1
follow to the letter the instructions on the
labels of the bottles."
Few cases of complaints at the end of work
days when pesticides were applied.
The epidemiologic monitoring program
The material used for gloves, boots,
and edges of masks increases
sweating and impedes work. Wiping
away sweat spreads the pesticide
even more.
The pesticide creates a new level of
heat equilibrium that is dangerous to
break until the body naturally drops
to a lower level of equilibrium.
The toxic pesticide causes harm to the
stomach. Drinking promotes
filtering and dissolving of the toxins.
Necessity for adequate labeling of
recommendations on bottles.
Exchange of experiences provides
knowledge about blossoming, time
of harvest, economics.
Most symptoms begin at night when
subjects are at rest.
The principal activities of the epidemiologic monitoring program involved:
Education of growers' groups (base groups);
Training of health promoters (parallel to or integrated with the base
groups) to popularize the program, learn first-aid techniques and skills,
understand the educational and organizational aspects of the program,
correctly manage the registers, transfer cases of intoxication to other
levels of the health service system, and periodically evaluate the program;
Sensitize health and agricultural professionals and technicians to popularize
the program, participate in the creation and management of the
registers, receive and treat cases transferred by the health promoters and
villagers, and periodically evaluate the program; and
Create a register and transfer system.
Originally, these activities presupposed that a vertical chain of communication
existed from the village level to the professional or formal level (villagerspromotersprofessionals).
Educational action was to be directed only at the
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