Abstract:
The most of pesticide that used in Thailand was insecticide such as organophosphate, carbamate, abamactin, etc. The organophosphates (OP) and the carbamates were act as cholinesterase inhibitors. This study was cross-sectional study using questionnaire and cholinesterase analyzer to measure erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) in blood. The objectives of this study were: to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of farmers on usage pesticides and to assess association between KAP and the level of cholinesterase in farmer’s blood at Nang Ler sub-district in Chainart province. Farmers (n= 98) were separated to 2 groups: the farmers dealt with spraying, mixing and loading pesticide as direct exposed farmers (n=51) and the farmers involving with rice growing and harvesting rice and they did not apply pesticides by themselves as indirect exposed farmers (n=47). The results showed that in direct exposed farmers and indirect exposed farmers, the association between knowledge and practice was significantly correlation (Spearman’s rho 0.412 and 0.662, P-value < 0.001). Direct exposed farmers had risk on AChE level more than indirect exposed farmers and there was significant (Independent t-test, P-value 0.013). Both of farmers, AChE level were not significantly associated with KAP. An indirect exposed farmer, PChE level was significantly associated with knowledge (Spearman’s rho 0.538, P-value < 0.001).
