This study is a semi-experimental study with the objectives to 1) examine the knowledge and behaviors in pesticide use of agriculturists in the experimental areas, 2) compare the knowledge and behaviors of agriculturists in the experimental and control groups, 3) compare the knowledge and behaviors of agriculturists in the control group before and after the experiment. The experimental areas were Prasart district and Muang Luang district in amphur Huay Tuptun, Srisakate province. The Prasart district was chosen for the control group, with 192 subjects, and the Muang Luang district for the experimental group, with 196 subjects. Both groups were tested on knowledge and behaviors in pesticide use one time. Then health education program was provided to the experimental group. Then the knowledge and behaviors in pesticide use were tested after giving health education, with a survey form as the research tool. Knowledge and behavior scores were compared by using paired t- test and t-test statistics.
The pre-experiment average points for the experimental and control groups’ knowledge of pesticide use were 9.87+1.47 and 10.12 +1.14, respectively. The average points for pesticide chemical use behaviors were 41.63+10.76 and 41.61+6.64 respectively. After the health education program, the post-experiment average points for the experimental groups’ knowledge of pesticide chemical use were increased to 10.17+1.43 and higher than that of the control groups’ knowledge (9.66+1.18) significantly (p-value< 0.001). The average points for pesticide chemical use behaviors were increased to 57.26+8.54 and higher than that of the control groups’ behaviors (44.21+6.88) significantly (p-value<0.001).
The comparison between the experimental and control groups’ pre-experiment average points for knowledge and behaviors in pesticide chemical use yields no difference. The comparison between the post-experiment average points for the experimental and control groups shows difference with statistical significance (p-value< 0.001), the average point of the experimental group being higher than that of the control group.
Comparison between the average points for the experimental group’s knowledge on pesticide chemical use before and after the experiment yields difference with statistical significance (p-value=0.031) and the comparison between the average points for the experimental group’s pesticide use behaviors before and after the experiment yields difference with statistical significance (p-value<0.001), the average point being higher after attending the health education program. |