Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use
Abstract Background Insecticide resistance is a key barrier to long-term malaria control, and it may be exacerbated by poor agricultural pesticide use. Current practices, however, do not link public health and agricultural pesticide use. This study investigated the perspectives of farmers and other...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04289-1 |
| _version_ | 1818025980295380992 |
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| author | Nancy Stephen Matowo Marcel Tanner Benigni Alfred Temba Marceline Finda Yeromin Paul Mlacha Jürg Utzinger Fredros Oketch Okumu |
| author_facet | Nancy Stephen Matowo Marcel Tanner Benigni Alfred Temba Marceline Finda Yeromin Paul Mlacha Jürg Utzinger Fredros Oketch Okumu |
| author_sort | Nancy Stephen Matowo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Insecticide resistance is a key barrier to long-term malaria control, and it may be exacerbated by poor agricultural pesticide use. Current practices, however, do not link public health and agricultural pesticide use. This study investigated the perspectives of farmers and other stakeholders regarding the integration of agricultural and public health measures to address resistance. Additionally, the feasibility of participatory workshops to increase the farmers’ understanding and participation in pesticide stewardship was assessed. Methods Four themes were investigated: pesticide awareness, practices, and opinions of; insecticide resistance in malaria vectors; the effectiveness of current malaria prevention tools; and the links between agricultural and public health pesticide usage. Participatory workshops and field training were held with entomologists, farmers, and agricultural specialists, focusing on agro-ecosystem practices related to pest control; and local farmers were involved in live-testing for insecticides resistance of local Anopheles mosquitoes. Results Most farmers (94%) considered pesticides effective, and nearly half of them (n = 198, 46.4%) could identify and name crop pests and diseases, mostly using local names. Three quarters were unaware of mosquito larvae in their fields, and only 7% considered their fields as potential sources of mosquitoes. Two thirds were uninformed of any effects that agricultural pesticides may have on mosquitoes, and three quarters had never heard of resistance in malaria mosquitoes. Experts from various sectors acknowledged that agricultural pesticides might impact malaria control through increasing resistance. They did, however, emphasize the importance of crop protection and advocated for the use of pesticides sparingly and non-chemical approaches. Farmers learnt how to discriminate between malaria vectors and non-vectors, identify agricultural pests and diseases, choose and use pesticides effectively, and conduct resistance tests during the participatory workshops. Conclusion This study emphasizes the significance of enhancing subsistence farmers’ awareness of mosquito ecology as well as merging public health and agricultural pest management measures. Participatory techniques have the potential to raise stakeholder awareness and engagement, resulting in more effective resistance management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:24:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5bc88e5a32f64d0a8e59742b884728e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:24:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-5bc88e5a32f64d0a8e59742b884728e12022-12-22T02:02:18ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752022-09-0121111710.1186/s12936-022-04289-1Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide useNancy Stephen Matowo0Marcel Tanner1Benigni Alfred Temba2Marceline Finda3Yeromin Paul Mlacha4Jürg Utzinger5Fredros Oketch Okumu6Environmental and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health InstituteSwiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteDepartment of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sokoine University of AgricultureEnvironmental and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health InstituteEnvironmental and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health InstituteSwiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteEnvironmental and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health InstituteAbstract Background Insecticide resistance is a key barrier to long-term malaria control, and it may be exacerbated by poor agricultural pesticide use. Current practices, however, do not link public health and agricultural pesticide use. This study investigated the perspectives of farmers and other stakeholders regarding the integration of agricultural and public health measures to address resistance. Additionally, the feasibility of participatory workshops to increase the farmers’ understanding and participation in pesticide stewardship was assessed. Methods Four themes were investigated: pesticide awareness, practices, and opinions of; insecticide resistance in malaria vectors; the effectiveness of current malaria prevention tools; and the links between agricultural and public health pesticide usage. Participatory workshops and field training were held with entomologists, farmers, and agricultural specialists, focusing on agro-ecosystem practices related to pest control; and local farmers were involved in live-testing for insecticides resistance of local Anopheles mosquitoes. Results Most farmers (94%) considered pesticides effective, and nearly half of them (n = 198, 46.4%) could identify and name crop pests and diseases, mostly using local names. Three quarters were unaware of mosquito larvae in their fields, and only 7% considered their fields as potential sources of mosquitoes. Two thirds were uninformed of any effects that agricultural pesticides may have on mosquitoes, and three quarters had never heard of resistance in malaria mosquitoes. Experts from various sectors acknowledged that agricultural pesticides might impact malaria control through increasing resistance. They did, however, emphasize the importance of crop protection and advocated for the use of pesticides sparingly and non-chemical approaches. Farmers learnt how to discriminate between malaria vectors and non-vectors, identify agricultural pests and diseases, choose and use pesticides effectively, and conduct resistance tests during the participatory workshops. Conclusion This study emphasizes the significance of enhancing subsistence farmers’ awareness of mosquito ecology as well as merging public health and agricultural pest management measures. Participatory techniques have the potential to raise stakeholder awareness and engagement, resulting in more effective resistance management.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04289-1Agricultural pesticidesAgricultural practicesAnopheles mosquitoesCrop pestsInsecticide resistanceMalaria |
| spellingShingle | Nancy Stephen Matowo Marcel Tanner Benigni Alfred Temba Marceline Finda Yeromin Paul Mlacha Jürg Utzinger Fredros Oketch Okumu Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use Malaria Journal Agricultural pesticides Agricultural practices Anopheles mosquitoes Crop pests Insecticide resistance Malaria |
| title | Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use |
| title_full | Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use |
| title_fullStr | Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use |
| title_short | Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use |
| title_sort | participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use |
| topic | Agricultural pesticides Agricultural practices Anopheles mosquitoes Crop pests Insecticide resistance Malaria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04289-1 |
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