Effectiveness of the Program to Reduce Exposure to Agricultural Chemicals Among Sugarcane Farmers in Nong Hong District Buriram Province

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) assess the level of knowledge about pesticide use among sugarcane farmers in Nong Hong District, Buriram Province, and 2) compare the average scores of knowledge, safety behaviors in pesticide use, and blood cholinesterase levels before and after implementing a pesticide exposure reduction program. This quasi-experimental research involved 100 sugarcane farmers, with 50 participants each from Huai Hin Subdistrict and Sao Diao Subdistrict. The Huai Hin group served as the experimental group receiving the program, while the Sao Diao group was the comparison group. Research tools included a questionnaire and a pesticide exposure reduction program. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics Paired t-test and Independent t-test.

The findings revealed that, after the intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher average scores in knowledge and safety behaviors compared to before the intervention (p < 0.05). Furthermore, when comparing post-intervention results, the experimental group showed greater improvements in knowledge and safety behaviors than the comparison group, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). In terms of blood cholinesterase levels, the experimental group exhibited a significant increase in safe levels after the intervention (p < 0.05), and their levels were significantly higher than those of the comparison group (p < 0.05).