| dc.description.abstract | Pesticides are toxic substances that need to be managed effectively not only by
farmers but also by those working in pesticide stores. Poor management of
pesticides in these stores can lead to environmental contamination and health
issues. Health problems caused by pesticides can result from improper pesticide
handling and inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The aim of
this study is to analyze the relationship between pesticide handling behaviors and
the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with health complaints among
pesticide sellers in North Labuhanbatu District. This descriptive analytic study
utilized a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 55 individuals. The findings
revealed that the behaviors of sellers, including knowledge (54.5%), attitudes
(89.1%), and practices (50.9%), were categorized as good. However, complete use
of PPE was low (3.6%). Statistical analysis using Chi-square indicated that
variables such as knowledge (p=0.009) and practices (p=0.001) were significantly
associated with health complaints among pesticide sellers, whereas attitudes (p=1)
and the use of PPE (p=0.053) showed no significant association. Most workers
reported experiencing health complaints (76.4%), with the most common being
coughing (56.4%) and headaches (54.5%). It is recommended to improve pesticide
handling practices and the use of PPE to prevent health complaints when working
in pesticide stores. This effort could enhance work productivity, and relevant
agencies should provide education or training to pesticide store workers on proper
pesticide handling, appropriate use of PPE, and mitigating the negative impacts of
pesticide hazards | en_US |
