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Effect of Community-Based Pesticide Exposure Assessment on Pesticide-Related Health Risk Detection among Farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

Pesticide exposure is an important occupational and public health concern among farmers in Nigeria because agricultural activities frequently involve the handling, mixing, application, storage, and disposal of pesticides. Inadequate use of personal protective equipment, improper pesticide storage, unsafe application practices, accidental spills, contaminated clothing, and insufficient knowledge of pesticide safety may increase farmers' exposure to harmful chemicals. Repeated or excessive exposure to pesticides may be associated with acute symptoms and longer-term health risks affecting the respiratory, neurological, dermatological, gastrointestinal, and other body systems. However, pesticide-related health risks may remain undetected because of limited awareness, inadequate occupational health services, self-medication, geographical barriers, financial constraints, and limited access to appropriate assessment and healthcare services. Community-based pesticide exposure assessment provides an opportunity to identify farmers who may be exposed to pesticides and assess practices and conditions that increase their health risks within agricultural communities. Early identification may facilitate pesticide safety education, exposure reduction, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, clinical assessment, and referral where necessary. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of community-based pesticide exposure assessment on pesticide-related health risk detection among farmers in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on Occupational Health Theory, the Health Belief Model, and the Social Ecological Model. Occupational Health Theory emphasizes the systematic identification, assessment, prevention, and control of workplace hazards to protect workers from occupational health problems. The Health Belief Model explains how farmers' perceptions of susceptibility to pesticide-related health problems, perceived severity, perceived benefits of exposure assessment, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence participation in community-based pesticide exposure assessment. The Social Ecological Model emphasizes the influence of individual, household, community, agricultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors on pesticide handling practices, exposure, health-seeking behaviour, and adoption of protective measures. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how community-based pesticide exposure assessment may influence pesticide-related health risk detection among farmers in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative cross-sectional analytical or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise adult farmers aged 18 years and above residing and working in selected agricultural communities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, local government areas, agricultural communities, farming groups, farms, and eligible farmers. Community-based pesticide exposure assessment will be measured using indicators such as assessment coverage, frequency of community assessment activities, pesticide handling practices, frequency and duration of pesticide use, types of pesticides used, mixing and application practices, storage and disposal practices, use of personal protective equipment, exposure to pesticide spills or contaminated surfaces, availability of pesticide safety education, trained assessment personnel, and referral arrangements. Pesticide-related health risk detection will be assessed using indicators such as identification of acute pesticide-related symptoms, respiratory symptoms, skin irritation, eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, neurological symptoms, gastrointestinal complaints, occupational exposure patterns associated with increased health risk, workers requiring further clinical assessment, newly identified high-risk farmers, referrals for medical evaluation, and confirmed pesticide-related health conditions where appropriate. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, pesticide exposure assessment forms, occupational health records, community assessment registers, agricultural records, healthcare facility records, and referral registers. Where feasible and ethically appropriate, environmental or biological exposure measurements may complement self-reported exposure information. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize farmers' characteristics, pesticide-use practices, exposure patterns, protective behaviours, assessment coverage, and pesticide-related health risks. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis, will be used to determine the effect of community-based pesticide exposure assessment on pesticide-related health risk detection. Where appropriate, health-risk detection rates before and after implementation of community-based pesticide exposure assessment activities may be compared to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that community-based pesticide exposure assessment has a significant positive effect on pesticide-related health risk detection among farmers in Nigeria. Farmers who participate in community-based pesticide exposure assessment are expected to have a higher likelihood of previously unrecognized pesticide exposure risks and related health concerns being identified than farmers without access to such services. Community-based assessment may facilitate early recognition of unsafe pesticide handling practices, inadequate use of protective equipment, high-frequency exposure, accidental exposure, and symptoms potentially associated with pesticide exposure. Early identification may provide opportunities for pesticide safety education, improved protective practices, exposure reduction, appropriate clinical assessment, and timely referral. Bringing assessment services closer to agricultural communities may reduce geographical and financial barriers and reach farmers who have limited access to occupational health services. Community-based education may also improve farmers' knowledge of pesticide labels, safe mixing and application practices, storage, disposal, personal hygiene, and appropriate protective equipment. Conversely, inadequate assessment coverage, limited availability of trained personnel, insufficient protective equipment, low awareness, financial constraints, self-medication, poor adherence to safety recommendations, and weak referral and follow-up systems may reduce the effectiveness of community-based pesticide exposure assessment. The study therefore expects accessible and systematically implemented community-based pesticide exposure assessment to contribute significantly to improved detection and prevention of pesticide-related health risks among farmers in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on community-based pesticide exposure assessment, pesticide-related health risk detection, farmers' health, occupational health, agricultural health, environmental health, chemical exposure, occupational disease prevention, preventive healthcare, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state ministries of health and agriculture, agricultural extension services, primary healthcare centres, occupational health practitioners, community health workers, farmers' associations, pesticide regulatory authorities, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for reducing pesticide-related health risks. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for expanding community-based pesticide exposure assessment, strengthening pesticide safety education, improving farmers' access to appropriate personal protective equipment, promoting safer pesticide handling and storage practices, improving access to occupational and primary healthcare services, strengthening referral and follow-up systems, enhancing monitoring of pesticide exposure, and integrating pesticide health-risk assessment into appropriate community-based agricultural and occupational health programmes across Nigeria.

Keywords: Community-based pesticide exposure assessment, pesticide-related health risk detection, farmers, pesticide exposure, agricultural workers, occupational health, chemical exposure, pesticide safety, agricultural health, preventive healthcare, Nigeria, public health.