Safety precaution compliance and associated factors among pesticide user farmers in Dera district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2024: a health belief model approach

Exposure to agrochemicals poses acute and chronic health effects, including cancer. Adherence to safety measures reduces these risks and environmental contamination. Evidence on safety compliance among pesticide user farmers, particularly within a Health Belief Model (HBM) framework, was limited in the study area. This study addresses this gap and provides baseline information for the local community. To assess safety precaution compliance and associated factors among pesticide user farmers in the Dera district, Northwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study, using HBM, was conducted from 5 May 2024 to 21 June 2024. A multistage sampling technique identified 469 participants. Collected data via structured questionnaires were analyzed with SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses were performed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Model fitness was evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) quantified associations. Among 437 farmers surveyed with a 93.2% response rate, 172 (39.4%) were compliant with pesticide safety. Most respondents were aged 31-42 years (139; 31.8%), male (300; 68.6%), illiterate (260; 59.5%), and earned < 3500 ETB monthly (373; 85.4%). Significant factors of compliance included longer farming experience (AOR = 2.76; 95% CI 1.06-7.17), longer duration of pesticide storage at home (AOR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.30-0.85), higher perceived severity (AOR = 10.56; 95% CI 5.41-20.61), and higher perceived benefits (AOR = 6.47; 95% CI 3.52-7.76). Majority of participants in the study area demonstrated poor safety compliance. Dera district's agriculture office with relevant stakeholders, should enhance farmers' perception of the risks of unsafe pesticide handling. Benefits of safety practices, such as timely use of leftovers and proper disposal of empty containers be advocated.