QUALITY OF LIFE OF RURAL WORKERS AND PESTICIDES: A STUDY WITH THE WHOQOL-BREF

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the quality of life of rural workers from ten communities assisted by the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA) in Vitória de Santo Antão. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study applying the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire to a convenience sample estimated with a confidence level of 95% and a maximum error equal to 5%, totaling 343 individuals. Results: The sample was divided into two groups, one of workers who reported not using pesticides (G1) and another group of those who reported using it (G2). The highest scores were obtained in the psychological and social domains by G1 (70.9, 74.7) as well as by G2 (67.0, 70.7). There were significant differences between both groups regarding the physical, psychological and social domains, with p-values lower than 0.05. The highest scores in all areas were obtained by the group that reported not using pesticides (G1). Conclusions: The use and handling of pesticides affected the variables with respect to physical, psychological and social aspects of the sample. The environmental conditions in which the sample was inserted were found to be the same for both groups. DESCRIPTORS Quality of life. Occupational health. Pesticides. Pesticide exposure. Agricultural Workers' Diseases.