Knowledge and Practices of Pesticides Use among Beans Traders within Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria

Adequate knowledge and adoption of best practices is important to avoid pesticide poisoning and ensure food safety. Therefore, knowledge and practices of pesticides use was investigated among bean traders within Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to bean traders to collect data such as trader knowledge about pesticide toxicity, practices and self-reported clinical effects following exposure. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools. The pesticides products used by traders contained organophosphates (62%), pyrethroids (26%) and inorganic compounds all of which are moderately hazardous. Data from the Likert scale on knowledge of pesticides showed that 78% of traders had reasonable knowledge of the toxicity of pesticides. Traders however failed to adopt best practices on the use of pesticides. The major self-reported clinical symptoms following pesticide use were skin irritation (76%), vomiting (78%), sneezing (73%), back pain (80%) and nausea (48%). Majority of the traders also neither sought medical help at hospitals nor took medication to relieve symptoms of pesticide poisoning. Therefore, training and sensitization of bean traders is recommended to promote pesticide knowledge and safer practices