Health Literacy and Associated Factors Influencing Pesticide Protective Behaviors Among Cassava Farmers in an Eastern Thailand Province: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Pesticide exposure is a significant occupational hazard among cassava farmers, raising various health and environmental concerns. Health literacy plays a crucial role in enabling farmers to understand and implement effective pesticide protective behaviors. This cross-sectional study examined health literacy and factors influencing pesticide protective behavior among cassava farmers. The participants were 399 cassava farmers registered as growers in one province in eastern Thailand, aged 20-65. They had at least one year of experience using chemical pesticides in cassava cultivation. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from December 2024 to January 2025. Instruments were comprised of the Individual and Health Factors, Pesticide Usage Factors, Health Literacy on Pesticide Use, and Pesticide Protective Behaviors Questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression techniques. The findings indicated that the majority of cassava farmers possessed a moderate level of overall health literacy (48.1%) and exhibited pesticide protective behaviors (57.6%). A statistically signif icant positive relationship was observed between health literacy and pesticide protective behavior. Factors significantly associated with pesticide protective behaviors among cassava farmers included health literacy, age, education level, monthly income, allergic reactions from pesticide use, and duration of pesticide use, with health literacy being the strongest predictor. This study demonstrates that health literacy is crucial for enhancing pesticide protective behaviors. Nursing interventions should focus on educational strategies that enhance health literacy to promote safer pesticide practices, as well as the need for public health policies that support health literacy in agricultural safety programs, to safeguard the health of farming communities.