RETRACTED: Use of personal protective equipment towards pesticide exposure: Farmers' attitudes and determinants of behavior (Retracted Article)

The use of nine items of personal protective equipment (PPE) during pesticide spray preparation and spraying was studied among farmers of Moghan Plain region, Iran, along with factors affecting PPE use behavior. Face-to-face interviews with the farmers based on a structured questionnaire were conducted. Low levels of PPE use were reported by almost half of the farmers (48.3%), while 30.5% showed moderate levels and 21.2% showed high levels of PPE use. Long-sleeved shirt was the most common item used by farmers, followed by simple face mask, boots, gloves, hat, wipes for covering face and mouth, trousers, and coveralls. Farmers who were satisfied by farming, farmers with off-farm income, and married farmers used PPE items more frequently. PPE use behavior also showed a positive association with the number of literate members of the household, farmers' knowledge of pesticide hazards, and use of information sources. Distance of village to agricultural offices and extension service centers showed a negative association with PPE use. Structure equation modeling (SEM) revealed that PPE use was increased with i) negative attitudes of farmers towards pesticides, ii) high levels of knowledge about pesticide hazards, iii) frequent contact with information sources, and iv) past poisoning experience during pesticide handling. Based on the model, the most effective variable on PPE use behavior was farmers' attitudes towards pesticides followed by knowledge of pesticide hazards, poisoning experience, and information sources. These four variables explained 85% of the variance in farmers' behavior in PPE use. The study brings new information on the mediating role of farmers' attitudes towards pesticides, knowledge of pesticide hazards, poisoning experience, and information sources in the use of PPE. Education of farmers on the hazards of pesticides is crucial for changing wrong behaviors in PPE use. Moreover, close contacts of the extension experts with pesticides retailers could increase farmers' safety in pesticide use. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.