International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
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Title:
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH EXPOSURE AND SELF-REPORTED ILLNESSES AMONG TOBACCO FARMERS IN SUNA WEST SUBCOUNTY, MIGORI COUNTY, KENYA

Authors:
Simeon O.Okuthe, Tom O. Odhong', Fred Amimo, George Ayodo

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1Simeon O.Okuthe, 1Tom O. Odhong', 1Fred Amimo, 1George Ayodo
1. Department of Public and Community Health, School of Health Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology P. O. Box 210-40601 Bondo, Kenya.

MLA 8
Okuthe, Simeon O., et al. "OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH EXPOSURE AND SELF-REPORTED ILLNESSES AMONG TOBACCO FARMERS IN SUNA WEST SUBCOUNTY, MIGORI COUNTY, KENYA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 3, no. 10, Oct. 2018, pp. 5545-5560, ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=387. Accessed Oct. 2018.
APA
Okuthe, S., Odhong, T., Amimo, F., & Ayodo, G. (2018, October). OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH EXPOSURE AND SELF-REPORTED ILLNESSES AMONG TOBACCO FARMERS IN SUNA WEST SUBCOUNTY, MIGORI COUNTY, KENYA. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 3(10), 5545-5560. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=387
Chicago
Okuthe, Simeon O., Tom O. Odhong, Fred Amimo, and George Ayodo. "OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH EXPOSURE AND SELF-REPORTED ILLNESSES AMONG TOBACCO FARMERS IN SUNA WEST SUBCOUNTY, MIGORI COUNTY, KENYA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 3, no. 10 (October 2018), 5545-5560. Accessed October, 2018. ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=387.

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Abstract:
Background
Tobacco is a cash crop grown worldwide and it is a crop that is used for both economic and medicinal purposes. However, from the time the tobacco seed is planted to harvest, the health of farmers is at risk, particularly due to injury and illness
Objective
The aim of the study was to determine the duration of occupational health exposure among tobacco farmers, Identify self-reported illness among tobacco farmers and to determine the association of duration of occupational health exposure with the self-reported illnesses among tobacco farmers in Suna West Sub County.
Methodology
Descriptive cross-sectional study design was to determine the occupational health exposure and self-reported illnesses among 280 tobacco farmers .Purposive and random sampling methods were used to recruit the study participants. Semi-structuredquestionnaire was used in data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.
Results
A total of 280 farmers were interviewed, 58% are not using protective gear despite the fact that 77% are aware of the effect of exposure on their health. 55.4% are not using protective gear because they are too expensive. Of the major public health concern is that 11.2% of respondents dispose pesticide containers by throwing to the bush. Also, self-reported illnesses among tobacco farmers include headache (33.2%), difficulty in breathing (15.7%), Dizziness (12.9%) and other were less than 5%.The study further reports associated use of protective gear with headache among the tobacco farmers (P =0.015).
Conclusion
The study concludes that there is poor use of protective gear and the disposal of pesticide containers among farmers. Also, the findings suggest that some reported illnesses could be due to occupational health exposure among farmers.

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