FARMERS HEALTH AND SAFETY AT SHARKIA GOVERNORATE AND THE INFLUENCING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt.

2 Specialist Nursing, General Hospital Faqous, Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt.

3 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous of all economic sectors and many agricultural workers suffer occupational accidents and ill health each year.This study explored the most significant factors that impact on the health of farmers and the interrelationship between these factors. Cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 521 of farmers at Dawar-Gihenna village, Faqous District, Sharkia Governorate. Tools were used for data collection are an interview questionnaire consists of six parts to collect data socio-demographic characteristics of farmers, Economical status and home environment, Medical history, Knowledge regarding health and safety, Attitude regarding health and safety and Practice regarding health and safety. The fieldwork was executed in three months. It started in March 2013 to till the end of June
2013. The results revealed that (58.2%) of participants had unsatisfactory knowledge, while (61.4%) had Positive attitude towards agricultural hazards and (51.1%) of participants had adequate practices towards agricultural hazards.

Keywords