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Introduction: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to find the association between pesticide exposure and the incidence of suicide in agricultural workers, focusing on analyzing the profile of agricultural workers, the countries with the highest number of publications and, especially, the link between occupational exposure to pesticides, the degradation of mental health and suicide among agricultural workers. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol using Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, where 33 articles were screened to compose the final portfolio. Results: There is a strong link between pesticide exposure and suicide in agricultural workers. Smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure time, and marital status influence the decision to die by suicide. Brazil and the US lead the ranking in publications, demonstrating that it is not a problem only for developing countries. Organophosphates are the main pesticides used, and they degrade an enzyme crucial for the nervous system, which can result in mental disorders and consequent suicide in agricultural workers. Conclusion: There is a need for stricter norms for the commercialization and use of pesticides. There is also a need for providing training to agricultural workers on the application and storage of pesticides, and to communicate about the compounds and the consequences of pesticides to mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to find the association between pesticide exposure and the incidence of suicide in agricultural workers, focusing on analyzing the profile of agricultural workers, the countries with the highest number of publications and, especially, the link between occupational exposure to pesticides, the degradation of mental health and suicide among agricultural workers. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol using Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, where 33 articles were screened to compose the final portfolio. Results: There is a strong link between pesticide exposure and suicide in agricultural workers. Smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure time, and marital status influence the decision to die by suicide. Brazil and the US lead the ranking in publications, demonstrating that it is not a problem only for developing countries. Organophosphates are the main pesticides used, and they degrade an enzyme crucial for the nervous system, which can result in mental disorders and consequent suicide in agricultural workers. Conclusion: There is a need for stricter norms for the commercialization and use of pesticides. There is also a need for providing training to agricultural workers on the application and storage of pesticides, and to communicate about the compounds and the consequences of pesticides to mental health.

The working conditions of agricultural workers on mixing plant areas are examined, including the production factors that determine these conditions. The results of research on the parameters of the working conditions for agricultural workers are compared with the regulatory values. It has been established that a comprehensive assessment of the working conditions of agricultural workers should take into account the duration of exposure to the working equipment, the equipment and manual tools used, and the nature of the production.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess cancer risk among agricultural workers compared to the general population. METHODS: The study utilized data from Farmers’ Health Insurance (FHI) in Taiwan, which enrolled agricultural workers (N=1 175 149). The enrolled workers were matched to a general population (N=1 175 149) of the same age, gender, township, and enrollment year. The study population was linked to the National Cancer Registry to identify new cancer cases between 2000 and 2018. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period, 136 913 new cancers among agricultural workers were identified. The study found that male farmers had an increased cancer risk, including lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), oral cancer, lip cancer, esophagus cancer, rectum and rectosigmoid junction cancer, liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer, lung cancer, trachea and bronchi cancer, and other non-melanoma skin cancer, even when considering the latency period. Female farmers had an elevated risk of multiple myeloma and other non-melanoma skin cancer. Moreover, only lymphoma, NHL, other lymphoid, and multiple myeloma, were both found to occur at different insurance periods. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides farmer cancer patterns and risk, adding to the evidence that farmers are at increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially for hematological cancers. As exposure varies by farm operation type, individual farmer exposure may vary widely. Further understanding of the complex relationship between occupational exposure, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors is needed.

Introduction: Pendimethalin is an herbicide that is used worldwide to attack certain wide leaf and grassy weeds in a variety of agricultural and non-crop regions, with a claimed very low toxicity to human. There have been some few reported cases of acute pendimethalin toxicity to date, around the world. We report a case of pendimethalin toxicity resembling and managed initially as organophosphorus poisoning. Case Description: A 42-year-old agricultural worker was found unresponsive in his field with profuse oral secretions. The patient presented with altered mental status, where Glasgow comma scale was 10, oxygen saturation at room air was 88 %, Blood pressure measured 125/75, pulse rate was 95 beats per minute, and temperature was 37 °C. The patient’s pupils were constricted, equal, regular, and reactive. Chest examination revealed scattered respiratory crepitations. The patient also had a distinct garlic odor very similar to that of Organophosphate compounds. The results of his laboratory investigations revealed only hypoxemia. The patient received atropine and supportive management, which prompted the chest secretions to clear up and allow him to restore consciousness without experiencing any neurological problems.Conclusion: Pendimethalin toxicity can present with manifestations mimicking acute organophosphorus poisoning. Proper supportive care is needed for the management of acute pendimethalin toxicity.

IntroductionFarmers are vulnerable to adverse health effects from pesticide exposure due to their health literacy (HL). Therefore, this study aims to investigate HL among farmers in four main regions of Thailand, investigating socio-demographics, agricultural, and personal protective factors to their HL.MethodsThis cross-sectional design study was conducted on 4,035 farmers from January to July 2023. The European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-47 items were used to measure HL.ResultsThai farmers had a mean HL score of 34.7 ± 8.7, and the farmers in the North region of Thailand had the highest frequency of limited HL (75.8%). Socio-demographic factors that were associated with HL included gender, region of living, marital status, education level, co-morbidity, and number of family members. Agricultural factors associated with HL included planting status, working hours on farm, spraying pesticides, harvesting crops, pesticide use of >1 type, access information from government officers, access information from posters/brochures, information from online multimedia, and access information from neighbors. Personal protective factors that were associated with HL included wearing a hat, goggles, a rubber apron, and a long-sleeved shirt.DiscussionOur study recommends that strategies and interventions to enhance the HL of farmers should be focused on the target populations, which include men, widows, or divorced, those with low levels of education, those who have co-morbidities, and those who applied pesticides of more than 1 type and improper personal protective equipment (PPE) use. The primary emphasis needs to be on the North region of Thailand, making that the target area to improve health equity in Thailand. These efforts would enhance the HL of farmers and sustainably improve pesticide safety behavior. Additionally, there is an urgent need for supportive measures aimed at altering on-farm practices and promoting education on alternative pest management strategies, particularly non-chemical crop protection, to ensure sustainable agriculture.

BACKGROUND: In India, where agriculture is the prime occupation among the rural population, farmers are extensively using pesticides in crop production without taking adequate precautions. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to examine pesticide usage patterns, usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), knowledge on pesticide toxicity, and attitude towards occupational safety among farmers diagnosed with leukaemia (n = 60), lymphoma (n = 33), and breast cancer (n = 30) visiting a tertiary cancer care hospital in Hyderabad, India. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire and the data collected were analysed with statistical software SPSS 23. RESULTS: The survey revealed that the participants had an average of 19.6 years of farming experience and women were predominantly involved in the mixing of pesticides and other agricultural work apart from spraying. All of them were not using any PPE and the majority of them did not have any knowledge on the route of exposure, toxicity symbols, and safe handling of pesticides. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between educational status and knowledge, attitude and practices (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Even though the majority of the farmers were educated, their lack of adequate knowledge on pesticides had enabled them to adopt risky behaviours in handling and storage of pesticides. There is a need for continuous training programs for farmers to promote awareness and minimize the hazards of occupational exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Crítica de Relaciones de Trabajo, Laborum is the property of Ediciones Laborum S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Education is a powerful tool that improves socio-economic conditions and empowers individuals, especially women. However, women face gender disparities resulting in lower literacy rates compared to men. Besides understanding the educational status of women agricultural workers and their accessibility to schools and colleges, this study investigated the impact of education on their income levels, language proficiency in mother tongue and English and their preferences to spend more on their children education. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected and analysed from a random sample of 5,044 rural women agricultural workers across 98 revenue villages in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The findings revealed that half of the respondents completed education ranging from 6th to 10th class, where as one out of every four respondents were illiterates and a small percentage possessed higher qualifications of a degree and above. Most of the respondents had access school and six out of ten had access to college within 5 km range. The study established a positive correlation between education level and both individual and family income and a higher level of language proficiency in both the mother tongue and English. The educated rural women workers showed a preference for private schools to educate their children, indicating a growing inclination to spend more on education.

Introduction: Agricultural fields like weed management and horticultural operations are the most common and labor-intensive. Most of these tasks are completed with the help of push-pull-type agricultural machinery. The push-pull tasks are mainly done using agricultural machinery (push-pull weeders, manually operated rice transplanters or seeders, long-handled agricultural tools, etc.) by farm workers. Since these are manually operated machinery, long working hours in awkward positions are expected, which causes physical stress and musculoskeletal disorders in the operators. An electromyography study for agricultural workers during push and pull operations was conducted in this study. Methods: To evaluate muscle activity, a laboratory test setup was developed based on the ergonomic criteria of the uniform force application. Four loads (50, 100, 150, and 200 N) and the four most used upper body muscles (middle deltoid MD, triceps brachii TR, brachioradialis BR, and biceps brachii BI) during push-pull operations were selected for an electromyographic study on twelve medically fit agricultural workers as subjects. This study attempted to minimize muscle activity, thereby reducing overexertion injuries. Results: The most activated muscles during the pushing and pulling operations were TR and BR, respectively. The muscle activity of the TR during the pushing task was found to be 109 µV, 135 µV, 178 µV and 195 µV at loads of 50 N, 100 N, 150 N, and 200 N, respectively. During the pulling task, the muscle activity of the BR was 51 µV, 66 µV, 80 µV, and 126 µV at loads of 50 N, 100 N, 150 N, and 200 N, respectively. Conclusion: For all subjects, a load of 200 N was found difficult to operate compared to other selected loads during push and pull operations. Muscle activation was found to increase with increasing load for each of the selected muscles.

Introduction: Pendimethalin is an herbicide that is used worldwide to attack certain wide leaf and grassy weeds in a variety of agricultural and non-crop regions, with a claimed very low toxicity to human. There have been some few reported cases of acute pendimethalin toxicity to date, around the world. We report a case of pendimethalin toxicity resembling and managed initially as organophosphorus poisoning. Case Description: A 42-year-old agricultural worker was found unresponsive in his field with profuse oral secretions. The patient presented with altered mental status, where Glasgow comma scale was 10, oxygen saturation at room air was 88 %, Blood pressure measured 125/75, pulse rate was 95 beats per minute, and temperature was 37 °C. The patient's pupils were constricted, equal, regular, and reactive. Chest examination revealed scattered respiratory crepitations. The patient also had a distinct garlic odor very similar to that of Organophosphate compounds. The results of his laboratory investigations revealed only hypoxemia. The patient received atropine and supportive management, which prompted the chest secretions to clear up and allow him to restore consciousness without experiencing any neurological problems. Conclusion: Pendimethalin toxicity can present with manifestations mimicking acute organophosphorus poisoning. Proper supportive care is needed for the management of acute pendimethalin toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite offering free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccines starting July 2021, Guatemala has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Latin America. From 28 September 2021 to 11 April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of community members, adapting a CDC questionnaire to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy. Of 233 participants ≥ 12 years, 127 (55%) received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 and 4 (2%) reported prior COVID-19 illness. Persons ≥ 12 years old who were unvaccinated (n = 106) were more likely to be female (73% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and homemakers (69% vs. 24%, p < 0.01) compared with vaccinated participants (n = 127). Among those ≥18 years, the main reported motivation for vaccination among vaccinated participants was to protect the health of family/friends (101/117, 86%); on the other hand, 40 (55%) unvaccinated persons reported little/no confidence in public health institutions recommending COVID-19 vaccination. Community- and/or home-based vaccination programs, including vaccination of families through the workplace, may better reach female homemakers and reduce inequities and hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population aging is a global trend, and the highest proportion of elderly people in the workforce per unit of population is found in agricultural areas. However, few systematic studies have been conducted on farmer falls in the field of agricultural machinery. This study focuses on the application of classification methods for monitoring devices to detect fall/nonfall movements of farmworkers, where agricultural biomechanical factors are considered in detecting activities of daily living. In this study, we recorded and analyzed original acquisition datasets of signals obtained from two accelerometers and one gyroscope for 40 healthy individuals who performed various falls and activities of daily living (ADLs). Spatial characteristics were used to train the machine-learning classifiers to distinguish between fall and non-fall events. Supervised machine learning experiments evaluated the effectiveness of the proposed approach: the k-nearest neighbors (kNN) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms achieved roc auc-scores of 0.999 in distinguishing falls and ADLs (binary-class classification). Moreover, an artificial neural network (ANN) classifier showed the highest performance in terms of classification roc auc-scores of 1.0. The evaluation metric demonstrated the highest performance in the analysis and evaluation of the signal obtained from the S2 acceleration sensor with a measurement range of ±16 g. The proposed SVM classifier evaluations showed a 0.988 roc auc-score for sensor tests in multi-class classification, along with the highest performance in terms of the F1-score and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) over 84% in the multi-class classification model for distinguishing each of ADLs and Fall using ±16 g acceleration sensor.

Resumen: Objetivo: Valorar la influencia de la precariedad laboral y la exclusión social en la salud de hombres y mujeres migrantes que trabajan en el sector agrícola en España. Método: Se recogerán datos cualitativos y cuantitativos en cuatro comunidades autónomas (Cataluña, La Rioja, Murcia y Andalucía) entre 2021 y 2022. En una primera fase se realizarán entrevistas personales semiestructuradas, con un mínimo de 40 informantes clave profesionales o expertos (de ONG, asociaciones, sanidad, servicios sociales, sindicatos, cooperativas agrícolas, política y mediadores culturales). En una segunda fase se combinarán entrevistas personales con técnicas cualitativas participativas (body mapping y photovoice), con 40 hombres y mujeres migrantes jornaleros/as. En una tercera fase se realizará un estudio transversal con una muestra estimada de 400-500 migrantes jornaleros/as basada en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y la Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida. Abstract: Objective: To assess the influence of job insecurity and social exclusion on the health of migrant men and women working in the agricultural sector in Spain. Method: Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected in four Spanish autonomous regions (Catalonia, La Rioja, Murcia, and Andalusia) between 2021 and 2022. First, semi-structured personal interviews with at least 40 professional key informants or experts (from NGOs, associations, health, social services, trade unions, agricultural cooperatives, politics, and cultural mediators). Second, semi-structured personal interviews combined with participatory techniques (body mapping and photovoice) will be conducted with 40 migrant men and women working in agriculture. Thirdly, a cross-sectional study with an estimated sample of 400–500 migrants working in agriculture, based on the National Health Survey and the Living Conditions Survey.

Copyright of Balkan & Near Eastern Journal of Social Sciences (BNEJSS) is the property of Balkan & Near Eastern Journal of Social Sciences (BNEJSS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article discusses the socioeconomic conditions of a farmer who owns a familyproducing agricultural unit (UAPF), and also analyzes characteristics of the rural household. It highlights the traditional culture of the rural household, specially the tradition of inheriting the land from parents to children. In Mexico, it was noted that some of the standards set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas are not met. Examples include occupational segregation and wage discrimination against women, and the absence of an effective policy of equal access to educational services. A public policy is proposed to promote access to Internet services, as well as the means for their use, as these services are considered an "enabling-good". The analysis used INEGI's Mexico Household Income and Expenditure Survey of 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IUSTA is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite offering free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccines starting July 2021, Guatemala has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Latin America. From 28 September 2021 to 11 April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of community members, adapting a CDC questionnaire to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy. Of 233 participants ≥ 12 years, 127 (55%) received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 and 4 (2%) reported prior COVID-19 illness. Persons ≥ 12 years old who were unvaccinated (n = 106) were more likely to be female (73% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and homemakers (69% vs. 24%, p < 0.01) compared with vaccinated participants (n = 127). Among those ≥18 years, the main reported motivation for vaccination among vaccinated participants was to protect the health of family/friends (101/117, 86%); on the other hand, 40 (55%) unvaccinated persons reported little/no confidence in public health institutions recommending COVID-19 vaccination. Community- and/or home-based vaccination programs, including vaccination of families through the workplace, may better reach female homemakers and reduce inequities and hesitancy.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in greenhouse agriculture workers exposed to pesticides. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 244 people working in greenhouse agriculture in a district center. The data collection tool was used; while the software of SPSS 22.0 in their assessment. In analysis, besides descriptive statistics, logistic regression and linear regression analysis were applied. Results: Most of the participants (69.5%) stated that they had direct contact with the pesticide and 53.0% of them stated that they did not use personal protective equipment. The mean of the risk of cardiovascular disease of the participants is 2.43±2.43 (min-max = 1-14). Peer pesticide application (OR=0.13, p=0.020), respiratory distress (OR=0.24, p=0.019) and cough complaints (OR=4.14, p=0.001) were found to be associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. In linear regression analysis; waist circumference (p = 0.000) was found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: The CVD risk of the participants was moderate. It was found that some of them experienced symptoms related to the respiratory and nervous system; the existence of respiratory distress and cough complaint, waist circumference were associated with increased CVD risk. Health checks should be carried out periodically in greenhouse workers and training and supervision should be provided on the use of personal protective equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción: Las matrices de exposición laboral permiten aglutinar información sobre distintas exposiciones laborales y puestos de trabajo. Objetivos: Caracterizar a los trabajadores agrícolas del municipio Arroyo Naranjo según variables sociodemográficas y elaborar una matriz de exposición a C condiciones de trabajo no ergonómicas. Material y método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo observacional de corte transversal con muestreo probabilístico intencionado. De 347 trabajadores, fueron encuestados 78, para un 22,4 %. Resultados: Predominaron las personas del sexo masculino, de edades entre 41 y 50 años, de piel blanca y nivel educacional de preuniversitario. Las enfermedades de mayor prevalencia encontradas fueron la hipertensión arterial y la osteoartrosis. El 35,9 % de los trabajadores corresponden al subprograma de cultivos varios, 21,8 % a frutales y 14,1 % a floricultura. La matriz de exposición laboral permitió identificar las condiciones de trabajo no ergonómicas por subprograma. En la floricultura, entre el 75 y el 100 % de los trabajadores realizaban giros y flexión del tronco y movimientos repetitivos con los miembros superiores. En frutales, del 75 al 100 % de los trabajadores refirieron permanecer de pie durante la jornada laboral, elevan la carga por encima de la rodilla desde el suelo, y hacen giros y flexión del tronco. En los cultivos varios, a menudo permanecen de pie durante la jornada laboral, elevan la carga por encima de la rodilla desde el suelo y realizan movimientos repetitivos con los miembros superiores. Conclusiones: La matriz muestra las particularidades en las condiciones de trabajo no ergonómicas de los tres subprogramas. Introduction: The occupational exposure matrices allow gathering information on different occupational exposures and jobs. Objectives: To characterize the agricultural workers of the Arroyo Naranjo municipality according to sociodemographic variables and to elaborate a matrix of exposure to non-ergonomic working conditions. Material and method: A descriptive observational cross-sectional the study was carried out with intentional probability sampling. Of 347 workers, 78 were surveyed, for 22.4%. Results: Male people, aged between 41 and 50 years, with white skin and pre-university educational level, predominated. The most prevalent diseases found were arterial hypertension and osteoarthrosis. 35.9% of the workers correspond to the subprogram of various crops, 21.8% to fruit trees, and 14.1% to floriculture. The occupational exposure matrix allowed the identification of non-ergonomic working conditions by the subprogram. In floriculture, between 75 and 100% of the workers performed turns and flexion of the trunk and repetitive movements with the upper limbs. In fruit trees, 75 to 100% of the workers reported standing up during the working day, lifting the load above the knee from the ground, and doing turns, and flexing the trunk. In miscellaneous crops, they often stand during the working day, raise the load above the knee from the ground, and perform repetitive movements with the upper limbs. Conclusions: The matrix shows the particularities in the non-ergonomic working conditions of the three subprograms.

Background: This study was undertaken to introduce a non- invasive technique for clinical diagnosis of spinal cord deformities. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the postural deformities and onset of thoracic Kyphosis and lumber Lordosis among agricultural workers and Information Technology workers. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out on thirty Agricultural workers (41-45 years) and twentyfive Information Technology workers (21-25 years) and their age matched control groups. The subjects were taken from their respective population by simple random sampling method. Measurements were made by Flexicurve Ruler in special standing posture. Kyphosis and Lordosis angles and Indices were calculated. Results: It indicates that maximum percentage of subjects had kyphotic angle between 400 -600. Twenty-three out of 30 agricultural workers (76.66%) and 22 out of 25(88%) information technology workers had kyphosis angle between 400- 600 but the same in case of control groups were 60% and 64% respectively. Maximum subjects had lordotic angle between 300 - 500. Thirteen out of 30 agricultural workers (43.33%) and 17 out of 25 information technology workers (68%) had lordotic angle in between 300 -500.The same in case of control groups were 43.33% and 56% respectively . Kyphosis index, Kyphosis angle and lordosis index, lordosis angle are significantly lower (p

This study explores experiences relevant to workplace sexual harassment (WSH) in agriculture among men and women farmworkers in California (U.S.) and Michoacán (Mexico). Anecdotal evidence documents women farmworkers having to endure behavioral, verbal, and physical WSH including sexual ogling, degrading language, groping, and requests for sex in exchange for work. We include survey comparisons between men and women in California and Michoacan on WSH among farmworkers. We conducted 197 farmworker surveys (38 men and 59 women in California; 40 men and 60 women in Michoacán). Community advisory boards contributed expertise and input for study strategies, materials, and dissemination. Survey participant ages ranged from 23 to 54 years old. Half worked in Mexico, 68% were married, 80% had children, and 47% had less than 7 years of education. Most farmworkers spoke Spanish and Purhépecha, an indigenous language spoken by the Purhépecha people in Michoacán. We used two strategies to measure WSH exposure in the previous year: (1) direct inquiry-based survey items (asking "Have you ever been the victim of or bystander to workplace sexual harassment?") documenting WSH among women (49%) and men (21%) in California and among women (7%) and men (13%) in Michoacán, and (2) behavior-based WSH items (using explicit examples of WSH behaviors perpetrated against the participant or witnessed by the participant as a bystander) documenting WSH among women (as high as 53%) and men (as high as 45%) in California and among women (as high as 65%) and men (as high as 68%) in Michoacán. Women farmworkers in California reported WSH experiences exceeding those of men. Reported WSH experiences in Michoacán were similar for men and women. Farmworkers identified WSH perpetrators as coworkers more than leadership. The frequency of exposure ranged from daily, weekly, monthly, and up to multiple times a year. Of 46 direct inquiry-based WSH incidents, only one perpetrator was punished, and at least half of all victims said they were forced to change their jobs. The findings of this study inform the development of WSH prevention efforts, such as education tools, support for efforts to facilitate reporting, protections against retaliation for workers, and promoting accountability for perpetrators. This information supports the promotion of policy recommendations and preventive approaches for WSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The aim of this research is fourfold: (i) analyze which countries have the most publications on suicide among agricultural workers, (ii) understand the factors that lead to either suicide or intent, (iii) identify the methods of suicide or attempted suicide, and (iv) propose preventive measures so that rural agricultural workers are not exposed to risk factors to suicide. Methods: A literature review was conducted for the period 1996-2019; the Scopus, Lilacs, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Science Direct databases were searched, resulting in 44 articles deemed relevant to this research. Results: Agricultural workers were considered to be workers who perform agricultural activities, as either employees or employers. Australia, China, India, and Brazil had the most publications, and the causes of suicide were mostly easy access to or exposure to pesticides, and socioeconomic factors, such as masculinity, conditions of poverty, and social isolation. Conclusion: Compared with other workers, agricultural workers can be a group at risk, with a great number of factors leading to suicide. Based on the available literature, proposals for suicide prevention are suggested.

Introduction: The aim of this research is fourfold: (i) analyze which countries have the most publications on suicide among agricultural workers, (ii) understand the factors that lead to either suicide or intent, (iii) identify the methods of suicide or attempted suicide, and (iv) propose preventive measures so that rural agricultural workers are not exposed to risk factors to suicide. Methods: A literature review was conducted for the period 1996–2019; the Scopus, Lilacs, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Science Direct databases were searched, resulting in 44 articles deemed relevant to this research. Results: Agricultural workers were considered to be workers who perform agricultural activities, as either employees or employers. Australia, China, India, and Brazil had the most publications, and the causes of suicide were mostly easy access to or exposure to pesticides, and socioeconomic factors, such as masculinity, conditions of poverty, and social isolation. Conclusion: Compared with other workers, agricultural workers can be a group at risk, with a great number of factors leading to suicide. Based on the available literature, proposals for suicide prevention are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Potatoes are a vital part of the Pacific Northwest's agricultural economy. As in many agricultural industries, workers involved in potato production may be at risk for illness and injuries. Methods: A Hazard Perception Survey (HPS) was completed by 63 potato growers in Washington (n = 26) and Idaho (n = 37) during the fall and winter of 2017–2018. Participants were asked to indicate their level of concern regarding the frequency and severity of injuries associated with various potato production tasks. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to identify operations and tasks that potato growers perceived to be most hazardous. Results: The majority of growers (70.9%) indicated that they were very concerned about injuries on their farm. Growers reported that tasks requiring bending, twisting, and lifting resulted in the most common and severe injuries, followed by potato sorting during harvest and falling during planting operations. Conclusions: Potato growers were concerned with potential hazards related to a variety of potato production tasks. In response to these concerns, we developed educational materials to assist growers in identifying and mitigating safety hazards on their own establishments. Future research is needed to evaluate the utility of these tools on reducing potential hazards and injury rates among workers in the Northwest potato industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These findings from focus groups explore attitudes, beliefs, perspectives, and experiences relevant to workplace sexual harassment (WSH) among men and women farmworkers in California, USA, and Michoacán, Mexico. Focus groups are stratified by country and gender, with two in California (10 men and 10 women) and two in Michoacán (8 men and 5 women). This community-based participatory research includes Community Advisory Boards (CABs) consisting of farmworkers, academicians, non-profit organizations, attorneys, industry personnel, and community leaders who took part in strategy and the development of materials. Themes are related to the experience of, responses to, and farmworkers' recommendations for prevention of WSH. Although men and women faced WSH, women's experiences were more severe and frequent. Participants condemned WSH as contrary to principles of caballerosidad, cortesía, respeto – cultural values promoting respect for others and protection for vulnerable persons. Participants endorsed the notion that women are responsible for WSH. Although farmworkers try to resolve WSH on their own with help from co-workers, family, and leadership, they face significant barriers that silence victims and allow WSH to persist. All farmworkers recommended that management set a good example and enforce consequences for offenders. Implications include directly appealing to cultural values (emphasizing respect), incorporating bystander education, and countering the myth that women are responsible for WSH in workplace training. WSH is a recognized occupational hazard that affects all directly or indirectly exposed workers. We emphasize that employers are ultimately responsible for their workers' safety, supported by a governmental regulatory role. Enforcement of existing policy is needed in California , whereas awareness and policy development is needed in Michoacán. These findings will support the researchers, agricultural community, educators, and organizations working to prevent WSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the ability of both subjective and objective sleep measures to predict balance difficulty in agricultural workers. Seven male farmers from rural Nebraska were analyzed for static balance performance following a bout of sleep. Actiwatches were used to measure objective sleep hours and subjective questionnaires, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, were used to measure subjective hours of sleep and sleep quality. The participants were observed for 12 sessions, with six in planting season and six in harvest season. Static balance testing consisted of measuring the area, total displacement, and maximum range in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions of the individual's center of pressure with Tekscan pressure mats. Overall, it was found that objective measures had a higher correlation with the magnitude of balance deviations than subjective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This study was undertaken to introduce a non- invasive technique for clinical diagnosis of spinal cord deformities. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the postural deformities and onset of thoracic Kyphosis and lumber Lordosis among agricultural workers and Information Technology workers. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out on thirty Agricultural workers (41-45 years) and twenty-five Information Technology workers (21-25 years) and their age matched control groups. The subjects were taken from their respective population by simple random sampling method. Measurements were made by Flexicurve Ruler in special standing posture. Kyphosis and Lordosis angles and Indices were calculated. Results: It indicates that maximum percentage of subjects had kyphotic angle between 400 -600. Twenty-three out of 30 agricultural workers (76.66%) and 22 out of 25(88%) information technology workers had kyphosis angle between 400- 600 but the same in case of control groups were 60% and 64% respectively. Maximum subjects had lordotic angle between 300 - 500. Thirteen out of 30 agricultural workers (43.33%) and 17 out of 25 information technology workers (68%) had lordotic angle in between 300 -500.The same in case of control groups were 43.33% and 56% respectively. Kyphosis index, Kyphosis angle and lordosis index, lordosis angle are significantly lower (p

Introduction: : The increased pesticide usage is due to intensification of agricultural sector. Pesticide is known to give an adverse effect to human health and environment. This study aims to investigate the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on pesticide exposure among farmers. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among vegetable and fruits farmers in the district of Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A modified KAP questionnaire was adapted and interviewed among 144 respondents. KAP level was constructed from the scores obtained. Results: About 85.4% of them were males with mean age of 48 years old, and 66% of them finished secondary school. The respondents' complaint that they had experienced symptoms such as excessive sweating (34.7%), blurred vision (27.1%) and numbness in legs (22.9%). Around 63% of farmers stored the pesticide bottle at designated place, while 62% wore personal protective equipment during spraying pesticides. About 61.1% of respondents had moderate knowledge of the pesticide used, 56.3% of them showed a not concern level of attitude towards pesticide usage, and 21.5% of them indicated a good practice while handling the pesticide. Significant correlation was observed between attitude with knowledge and practice (p<0.001), respectively. No correlation was found between knowledge and practice (p=0.142). Education level was shown to be the influencing factor for knowledge, while gender and age were the influencing factors for practice (p<0.05). Conclusion: Improvements in pesticide safety education should be conducted to minimize the risk from pesticide application, thus help the farmers' quality of life becomes better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2007 to 2017, the Agro‐Environmental Protocol of the Sugar and Energy Sector was in force, an agreement between sugarcane mill owners and the State Government of São Paulo, Brazil, proposing to eliminate sugarcane burning as a method to facilitate the harvest. Simultaneously, the sugarcane harvest was becoming widely mechanized while, under the interests of capital accumulation, the mills were entering the information and communication technology era and providing the agricultural processes with more precise and immediate management and technological controls, similar to those implemented in the mills' administrative and industrial operations in the 1990s. Short‐term factors, including environmental factors, favoured sugarcane technological changes. As a result, there was a mass layoff of rural workers and an increasing number of people/workers in agricultural mechanization, transportation and maintenance of machinery and administrative as well. The whole process highlighted the differences between mills, resulting in small and medium sugarcane farmers and mills to become the most impacted, in operational and financial terms, by the accelerating mechanization of the sugarcane industry as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sets out to analyze the unlevel points of Colombian peasantry's rural social playfield. To this end, it identified, examined, analyzed, and related the variables that influence the imbalance of the social playfield in Colombian rural areas to evaluate their consequences for peasants. It also identified ways to level the playing field from the dimensions of sustainable development. Three factors (and variables) were determined that generate imbalances, the identity factor, the production factor, and dignity. These factors and their interrelationship unlevel the rural social playfield, adversely impacting the peasants' opportunities of quality of life. Furthermore, approaches are proposed to diminish this imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Agricultural workers may be exposed to potential carcinogens including pesticides, sensitizing agents and solar radiation. Previous studies indicate increased risks of hematopoietic cancers and decreased risks at other sites, possibly due to differences in lifestyle or risk behaviours. We present findings from CanCHEC (Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort), the largest national population-based cohort of agricultural workers. Methods Statistics Canada created the cohort using deterministic and probabilistic linkage of the 1991 Canadian Long Form Census to National Cancer Registry records for 1992–2010. Self-reported occupations were coded using the Standard Occupational Classification (1991) system. Analyses were restricted to employed persons aged 25–74 years at baseline (N = 2,051,315), with follow-up until December 31, 2010. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were modeled using Cox proportional hazards for all workers in agricultural occupations (n = 70,570; 70.8% male), stratified by sex, and adjusted for age at cohort entry, province of residence, and highest level of education. Results A total of 9515 incident cancer cases (7295 in males) occurred in agricultural workers. Among men, increased risks were observed for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.00–1.21), prostate (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06–1.16), melanoma (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.02–1.31), and lip cancer (HR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.70–2.70). Decreased risks in males were observed for lung, larynx, and liver cancers. Among female agricultural workers there was an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07–1.72). Increased risks of melanoma (HR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.17–2.73), leukemia (HR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.24–3.25) and multiple myeloma (HR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.16–4.37) were observed in a subset of female crop farmers. Conclusions Exposure to pesticides may have contributed to increased risks of hematopoietic cancers, while increased risks of lip cancer and melanoma may be attributed to sun exposure. The array of decreased risks suggests reduced smoking and alcohol consumption in this occupational group compared to the general population.

Introduction: Farmers are vulnerable to adverse health effects from pesticide exposure due to their health literacy (HL). Therefore, this study aims to investigate HL among farmers in four main regions of Thailand, investigating socio-demographics, agricultural, and personal protective factors to their HL., Methods: This cross-sectional design study was conducted on 4,035 farmers from January to July 2023. The European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-47 items were used to measure HL., Results: Thai farmers had a mean HL score of 34.7 ± 8.7, and the farmers in the North region of Thailand had the highest frequency of limited HL (75.8%). Socio-demographic factors that were associated with HL included gender, region of living, marital status, education level, co-morbidity, and number of family members. Agricultural factors associated with HL included planting status, working hours on farm, spraying pesticides, harvesting crops, pesticide use of >1 type, access information from government officers, access information from posters/brochures, information from online multimedia, and access information from neighbors. Personal protective factors that were associated with HL included wearing a hat, goggles, a rubber apron, and a long-sleeved shirt., Discussion: Our study recommends that strategies and interventions to enhance the HL of farmers should be focused on the target populations, which include men, widows, or divorced, those with low levels of education, those who have co-morbidities, and those who applied pesticides of more than 1 type and improper personal protective equipment (PPE) use. The primary emphasis needs to be on the North region of Thailand, making that the target area to improve health equity in Thailand. These efforts would enhance the HL of farmers and sustainably improve pesticide safety behavior. Additionally, there is an urgent need for supportive measures aimed at altering on-farm practices and promoting education on alternative pest management strategies, particularly non-chemical crop protection, to ensure sustainable agriculture., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Sapbamrer, Sittitoon, Thongtip, Chaipin, Sutalangka, La-up, Thirarattanasunthon, Thammachai, Suwannakul, Sangkarit, Kitro, Panumasvivat and Srisookkum.)

Information on occupational health and safety practices in Brazilian aquaculture is limited. This paper reports preliminary results from an online survey based on research questions to identify occupational hazards, risk assessment practices, and prevention measures adopted in Brazilian aquaculture. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, comprising 25 questions, on a voluntary and anonymous basis. Aquaculture stakeholders were invited to participate in the study through email and social media channels. The demographic data demonstrated that the majority of respondents were men (72%) and having a higher education (95%). Most respondents employed administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) rather than substitution and other risk elimination measures to reduce exposure. The most commonly adopted measures were PPE use (87%), adequate handling of chemicals (86%), and imparting knowledge of risks (90%). However, only 12% of participants reported the presence of safety protocols at their workplace, and 17% had some form of immunization of workers. In this study, it was possible to identify a lack of hazard signage in the workplace and lack of occupational health and safety training. The results further indicate that risk management in aquaculture continues to be a challenge in low-income countries. Aquaculture farmers should be encouraged and supported in adopting measures and appropriate technologies to eliminate risks in Brazilian aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The image of the bracero suffered significant changes in the press during the bilateral program's two decades of existence (1942-1964). Based on the research on diverse Mexican national and regional newspapers, this article examines how the representation of the Mexican migrant worker evolved from the creation of the program until its dismissal. Through national and regional press, it is possible to look at the transformation and manipulation of the image of the bracero. Its figure, as presented by various newspapers, is closely related to the economic and political post-revolutionary context, and to the international context of the Cold War. Its representation is not homogeneous, and the newspapers seems to adjust this image in terms of their political affinities and its regional or national origin. There is a strong duality in the way that the press portrays the bracero, encompassing the positive and negative aspects of this character. Sometimes, he is shown as an agent of development and as an anti-imperialist champion, but in various occasions he is portrayed as a victim or as a national traitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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AIMS There is currently no centralised database on workers’ exposures to plant protection products (PPPs) in Switzerland, nor a national register for negative health effects linking them to occupational PPP exposure. This lack of basic data makes it difficult to implement either epidemiological research or prevention campaigns for the agricultural sector. The first objective was to understand the level of information and flow of data on occupational PPP exposures and health effects in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Then, to apply this information to develop recommendations for improving a vigilance system for occupational health effects related to PPP exposure. METHODS A mapping study and semistructured stakeholder interviews were conducted to better understand the flow of data on occupational PPP exposures and health effects. A clinical records investigation of workers occupationally exposed to PPPs was undertaken to understand the magnitude of this potential problem. Finally, a workshop brought together relevant stakeholders to discuss recommendations for the way forwards. RESULTS A lack of data on PPP exposures and associated health effects was revealed. This highlighted important knowledge gaps at different levels of the current institutional information flow system. We found that although there were numerous stakeholders that worked efficiently in their own mandate, there was a clear need for increased collaboration and coordination in order to make use of existing data to promote safer PPP use among agricultural workers in Switzerland. CONCLUSIONS Due to increasing evidence of an association between PPP exposure and health effects, increased collaboration between stakeholders is necessary to develop links between the data sources that already exist. Our study was the first to investigate the health effects linked to PPP exposure among the Swiss agricultural population. The recommendations presented in this paper would help promote a safer and healthier agricultural workforce in Switzerland, as well as the population at large.