Public Health ·
Ethiopian Survey Finds Gaps in Consumer Pesticide-Residue Safety Practices
A cross-sectional survey of 468 households in three districts of Ethiopia’s Jimma Zone assessed consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, and safety practices concerning pesticide residues in vegetables. Although 76.3% had good knowledge, about half reported high risk perception and half practiced preventive behaviors.
- The cross-sectional survey included 468 households in three districts.
- Good pesticide-residue knowledge was reported by 76.3%.
- Half of participants reported safe preventive behaviors.
- Negative attitudes were associated with lower risk perception.
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study among 468 randomly selected households in Gomma, Dedo, and Seka Chokorsa districts from October to December 2024. The study assessed knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and consumer safety practices related to pesticide residues in vegetables. Risk perception was categorized as low or high, and associations with participant characteristics were examined using logistic regression.
Good knowledge was reported by 76.3% of participants, while 52.8% had high risk perception, 59.2% had positive attitudes, and 50.9% reported safe preventive behaviors. In adjusted analyses, respondents earning no more than 5,000 Ethiopian birr per month had higher odds of low risk perception (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.04–2.25). Those with negative attitudes toward pesticide residues also had higher odds of low risk perception (AOR 3.58, 95% CI 2.41–5.30). Socio-demographic factors, knowledge, and reported practices were not significant predictors in the analysis.
The findings describe consumer awareness and perceptions in three districts; they do not measure pesticide residues or health outcomes. The cross-sectional design also cannot establish causation, and the results may not represent consumers elsewhere in Ethiopia. The authors suggest targeted programs to strengthen positive attitudes and support vulnerable groups.
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BMC Public Health: Consumers’ knowledge, attitude, and risk perception of pesticide residues and factors associated with health risk perception of consumers in selected districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.