Integrative Journal of Global Health

Maternal pesticide exposure and Child Neuro-development among smallholder tomato farmers in the southern corridor of Tanzania

International Congress on Global HealthCare
May12, 2021 | Webinar

Peter M chilipweli, Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi, Karim Manji

Ruaha Catholic University, Tanzania

ScientificTracks Abstracts: Integr J Glob Health

Abstract

Background: Exposure to pesticides with its associated effects prenatally and in early childhood has not received much attention. There is little scientific data on this aspect in Tanzania therefore this study was meant to contribute to the deficit in the subject. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to a sample of 286 participants of mother to child pair, whereby 172 and 114 were exposed and non-exposed respectively. Mothers who had been working in tomato sprayed farms were exposed and mothers who had not been working in the tomato sprayed farms were unexposed. Child aged 0-6 years was chosen from each mother sampled but only one child found to be the youngest with the classified age was enrolled. Malawi child development Tool (M-DAT) was employed to assess the child level of development, height, and weight of the children were collected and analyzed by the WHO anthropometric calculator. A checklist and questionnaire were used to observe and assess maternal exposure. Bivariate and Multivariate analysis were conducted to assess the relationship between various factors of exposure. Conclusions: The findings from this study have indicated that maternal pesticide exposure among farmworker residents in the SAGCOT area has a potential association with child developmental effect.

Biography

Peter M Chilipweli has his expertise in occupational health on pesticides exposure effects and related health effects to pregnancy women hence he is endowed with the characters of helping the society wellbeing currently he is the Assistant Lecturer at Ruaha catholic university at Iringa in Tanzania. His studies regarding health intervention has made him a potential researcher with the capability of influencing the Ministry to change on the various regulations which underway such as on the pesticides of public health important management. He has potential role as the organizer of various organization such as Proactive health initiative which is the NGOs providing health education to the small holders tomato farmers in Iringa. His study has a big contribution in Iringa Tanzania project which is known as SAGCOT project which has the inclusion of health appraisals due to this study