Pesticide applicators’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of pesticide use and exposure in floriculture farms in Naivasha, Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to boost yields and reduce pest related losses. Global pesticide use has doubled since 1990, reaching 3.70 million tonnes in 2022, with Africa's usage rising by 185% over the same period. However, Africa saw a slight decline from 210,000 tonnes in 2021 to 209,000 tonnes in 2022, with most pesticides imported. In Kenya, use peaked at 6,228 tonnes in 2020 before falling to 5,083 in 2022. A study in Naivasha found 141 pesticides in 20 horticultural farms, 4.3% classified by WHO as highly hazardous (Mburu et al., 2013). These statistics highlight that pesticides are still in use, yet their usage poses significant health risks to pesticide applicators working in floriculture farms due to occupational exposure. Despite continued pesticide reliance and health risks for workers, little research explores knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to pesticide exposure, particularly in Naivasha’s floriculture industry. Objective: The study aimed to identify pesticide applicators’ knowledge of safe pesticide use and the potential health risks associated with exposure in floriculture farms. Secondly, it examined pesticide applicators’ attitudes towards pesticide use, safety measures, and their perceived risks in floriculture farms. Thirdly, it evaluated the practices of pesticide applicators regarding protective measures, handling, and application of pesticides in floriculture farms. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in May and June 2014 involving 168 pesticide applicators from floriculture farms in Naivasha, selected using multistage sampling. Data collection involved an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained. Informed consent was secured from all participants prior to data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical methods: knowledge (0–23) was categorized using the Benjamin Bloom’s scale, attitudes (0–39) as positive/negative, and risky behaviours (0–26) with scores above 15 indicating higher risk. Descriptive statistics summarized findings, while Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests examined socio-demographic associations (p < 0.05). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test assessed the normality of KAP scores. Results: All study participants were male, with an average age of 29; most (84.5%) were married, and half had attained post-primary education. Although 60.1% had high knowledge and 75% had positive attitudes toward safe pesticide use, 97.6% participated in risky practices. While higher knowledge (2[2] = 14.539, p = 0.001) and positive attitudes (U = 3092, p = 0.023) were significantly associated with reduced risky practices, they were not sufficient alone to ensure safe practices. Instead, the study found that older age (U = 1676, p < 0.001), being married (U = 2731, p < 0.001), higher educational levels (U = 2280, p < 0.001), and increased experience with pesticide usage (U = 1760.5, p < 0.001) were also significantly linked to safer behaviour. Conclusion: Effective pesticide safety requires more than knowledge and positive attitudes. Addressing key demographic factors like age, education, and experience is crucial to reduce risky practices. Recommendations: To improve pesticide safety in floriculture farms, stakeholders should provide training, raise awareness, and enforce protective measures. Educating pesticide applicators on health risks, promoting responsible attitudes, and ensuring proper equipment use will reduce hazardous exposure