AN ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDE POISONING INCIDENCES PRESENTED AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE

Acute Pesticide Poisoning (APP) is a significant problem in developing countries, causing loss of productivity and fatalities in the agricultural sector. However, limited information on the connection between pesticide use, APP, and deaths in Zimbabwe is available. This study aimed to evaluate incidents that resulted in APP and identify the specific pesticides that caused them at Health Care Facilities (HCFs) in Mashonaland Central Province. Researchers conducted a survey asking standardized questions to gather information on APP cases from 93 HCFs. Descriptive statistics and chi-square association tests for APP cases in the targeted HCFs were calculated using IBM SPSS version 22. The study found that 43% of APP cases were due to pesticides belonging to the World Health Organization (WHO) class II acute toxicity category, while 26.1% were caused by Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). Most of the cases were due to intentional poisoning (87.1%), with the majority (55.9%) of APP incidents being males. The highest APP cases were recorded in the 21-30 age group (38.8%), followed by the 31-40 age group (32.8%). These results emphasize the significant impact of intentional poisoning by WHO class II type pesticides, particularly HHPs, on the incidence of APP in Zimbabwe. To mitigate the impact of HHPs on human health, it is recommended that the government of Zimbabwe consider pesticide risk reduction measures, such as stricter pesticide registration criteria, import restrictions, and the promotion of less toxic alternatives. These findings highlight the urgent need for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to work collaboratively towards creating a safer and more sustainable farming environment in Zimbabwe.