26.12.2012 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Table 4. Number and proportion (%) <strong>of</strong> respondents who prepared agrochemicals<br />

according to the instructions, wore protective clothing while spraying, and took<br />

precautions when handling chemical by level <strong>of</strong> education.<br />

Level <strong>of</strong><br />

education<br />

Followed<br />

instructions<br />

40 -<br />

35 -<br />

30 -<br />

25 -<br />

20 -<br />

15 -<br />

10 -<br />

5-<br />

0<br />

A<br />

Wore<br />

protective<br />

clothing<br />

CHCs<br />

Organophosphates<br />

LJ Other pesticides<br />

VA<br />

1987 1988 1989 1990<br />

Fig. 1. Cases <strong>of</strong> pesticide poisoning reported to Kiambu District Hospital<br />

between January 1987 and April 1990.<br />

career spray operators are male, and it is possible to speculate that ready access<br />

to agrochemicals is a factor in the considerable number <strong>of</strong> suicides by poisoning.<br />

From 1987 to April 1990, among poisonings <strong>of</strong> people 21 years and over,<br />

44 (55.7%) were <strong>of</strong> undetermined causes, 33 (41.8%) were intentional, and 2<br />

(2.5%) were accidental. During the period <strong>of</strong> the study, 133 cases <strong>of</strong> agrochemical<br />

poisoning were treated at Kiambu I)istrict Hospital alone; there were 8(6%)<br />

deaths (Table 5).<br />

Discussion<br />

The community uses a variety <strong>of</strong> pesticides and fertilizers extensively almost<br />

all year. Community awareness <strong>of</strong> the environmental and personal health<br />

hazards posed by these chemicals, especially pesticides, is minimal. The<br />

number <strong>of</strong> poisonings treated at Kiambu District Hospital suggests that action<br />

112<br />

Caution with -<br />

All Certain<br />

chemicals chemicals<br />

Sample<br />

size<br />

None 64 (15.0) 96 (22.5) 116 (27.2) 259 (60.8) 426<br />

Primary 424 (44.0) 342 (22.5) 217 (22.5) 699 (72.6) 963<br />

High school<br />

and over 256 (62.7) 167 (40.9) 98 (24.0) 289 (70.8) 408<br />

Total 744 (41.4) 605 (33.7) 431 (24.0) 1 247 (69.4) 1 797

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!