ACUTE PESTICIDE INTOXICATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG FLORICULTURE WORKERS IN BAHIRDAR CITY AREA, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA: A COMPARATIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Background: Floriculture is one of the labor intensive industries and that currently it is vastly across Ethiopia. Despite job opportunities, it causes acute pesticide intoxication to workers in developing countries due to exposure to hazardous pesticides, making the major public health concern. There is scant information on factors and magnitude of acute pesticide intoxication (API) in Ethiopia and particularly in the floriculture sector in Bahir Dar city. Objectives: To assess acute pesticide intoxication and associated factors among floriculture workers in Bahir Dar city area, North West Ethiopia, 2020 Methods: A comparative cross sectional quantitative study was conducted from February 1 to March 3, 2020 in Bahir Dar city area, North West Ethiopia. A total of 600 samples (300 from floriculture and 300 from controls) were included in this study. Simple random and systematic sampling technique was used for selection of floriculture workers and controls respectively. A binary logistic regression was fitted. In multivariable logistic regression model with P-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare the presence and the strength of association for outcome variable. Results: The prevalence of acute pesticide intoxication (API) among floriculture workers was 64.0% (95% CI: 58.54, 69.46) and 29.0% (95% CI: 23.84, 34.16) among controls in the previous 12 months and the prevalence was significantly different (X2= 0.000). The odds of developing API was higher among floriculture workers than the controls (AOR = 4.52). Being female worker [AOR = 2.35; 95% CI: (1.20 - 4.59)], lack of full PPE supply [AOR = 2.10; 95%CI: (1.15 - 3.86)] and using pesticide at household [AOR = 2.79; 95%Cl :( 1.19 - 6.58)] were the significant factors. Conclusions: The prevalence of acute pesticide intoxication was significantly higher among floriculture workers as compared to the controls. Sex, PPE supply, and use of pesticide at household were major predictors. Improving the supply of full packaged PPE ameliorate the acute pesticide intoxications problem. Key words: Acute pesticide intoxication, Comparative cross-sectional, Floriculture, Ethiopia