Current Research in Medical Sciences
Current Research in Medical Sciences
CRMS
Medical Sciences
http://crms.mubabol.ac.ir
1
admin
2538-6212
2538-6212
8
10.22088/crms
14
8888
13
en
jalali
1404
1
1
gregorian
2025
4
1
9
1
online
1
fulltext
en
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Orchardists in Amol County Regarding Agricultural Pesticides and Their Adverse Effects
بهداشت محیط
بهداشت محیط
پژوهشی اصیل
Original Article
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><i><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">Background</span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">:</span></span></b> <span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black">Global population growth has increased the demand for agricultural productivity and food security. In many countries, particularly developing regions, chemical pesticides remain the primary means of crop protection. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of orchardists in Amol County, Mazandaran Province, Iran, regarding chemical pesticides usage and their associated risks to human health and environmental sustainability.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><i><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">Methods</span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">:</span></span></b> <span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black">A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in spring 2024 among orchardists in Amol County, selected via cluster sampling. Data were collected using a structured KAP questionnaire, partially derived from validated instruments in related studies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><i><u><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black"></span></span></u></i></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><i><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">Results</span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">:</span></span></b> <span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black">The mean ± SD scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 9.91 ± 2.88 (out of 15), 15 ± 3.07 (out of 20), and 12.30 ± 3.53 (out of 20), respectively. Significant correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05) and attitude and practice (p < 0.05). Education level had a significant effect on all three KAP domains (p < 0.05). Farmers with higher education levels demonstrated better knowledge, attitudes, and safer practices compared to less-educated or illiterate participants. Notably, only 14.3% of respondents reported consulting agricultural extension services during their farming activities, while 85.7% relied on self-directed pesticide management, including procurement and dosage determination.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><i><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">Conclusion</span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:#003399">:</span></span></b><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black"> The findings highlight gaps in pesticide safety awareness and regulatory compliance among orchardists, underscoring the need for targeted educational interventions and enhanced extension services to mitigate health and environmental risks.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:12.0pt"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro","serif""><span style="color:black"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br type="_moz" >
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Pesticides, Orchard Management, Sustainable Agriculture, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice
87
97
http://crms.mubabol.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-86-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Amir Reza
Lonaji
amirreza.loneji.79@gmail.com
10031947532846002643
10031947532846002643
No
Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Hosseinali
Asgharnia
ehaamin2@gmail.com
10031947532846002644
10031947532846002644
No
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Seyed Mahmoud
Mehdinia
smmehdinia@yahoo.ca
10031947532846002645
10031947532846002645
No
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Mohammad
Shirmardi
shirmardim@yahoo.com
10031947532846002646
10031947532846002646
Yes
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran