Qualidade de vida dos agricultores expostos a agrotóxicos na produção de coco: estudo de caso no perímetro irrigado de São Gonçalo.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of life of farmers exposed to pesticides in coconut production in the irrigated perimeter of São Gonçalo. It was a cross-sectional, exploratory field study with a quantitative approach, with the application of two questionnaires, the first of sociodemographic data and exposure of workers to pesticides and the second, quality of life assessment: Short Form 36 (SF36), which is a validated questionnaire. The research was conducted in the municipality of Sousa-PB, with 25 workers exposed to pesticides in coconut production in the Irrigated Perimeter of São Gonçalo. Descriptive analysis was performed with a significance level of 5%. The sample was characterized by middle-aged adults; aged between 18 and 74 years old, male; 40% predominant of the Housing Center III; 40% of workers with incomplete primary education; 84% married, 72% brown; and with family income of 1 to 2 minimum wages (56%). The worst scores, according to SF36, were in relation to Physical Aspects, Emotional Aspects and Pain. Regarding the history of pathological and family history, 84% have children, of these, no child was born with a disability; 56% of wives were exposed to pesticides; 32% and 4% of pregnant women evolved to abortion and premature delivery, respectively; 20% have tried against their own life; 44% have had or have cancer (skin, brain, liver and lung). Regarding the exposure of workers to pesticides, 88% use pesticides; 56% of workers received no guidance on pesticide use; 48% are insecure for work; 48% of farmers ignore package label recommendations. Although 60% of farmers have not been oriented and trained to use PPE correctly, 44% sometimes use PPE; 84% take a bath as a precaution and care, 76% of farmers adopt the boot and hat as protection; 68% of PPE are washed at home; 84% are sanitized separately from family clothes; 24% of farmers despised packaging inside the drain, that is, a channel that carries water from the São Gonçalo reservoir to agricultural production lots; and 24% burned them. However, 100% believe that pesticides can be harmful to their health and that 68% have already had a health problem because they came in contact with pesticides. Of these, 44% of farmers reported the presence of dizziness and headache symptoms. Thus, exposure to pesticides interferes with workers' quality of life, causing them symptoms of intoxication and health problems.