Occupational activities associated with a reported history of malaria among women working in small-scale agriculture in South Africa

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Nov;85(5):805-10. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0092.

Abstract

Malaria-endemic agricultural communities are at risk for this disease because of crop and agricultural activities. A cross-sectional survey among women in small-scale agriculture on irrigated and dryland areas in Makhatini Flats, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa explored associations with self-reported history of malaria, including demographics, crop production, and specific agricultural activities. Ninety-eight (15.2%) of 644 women reported malaria while working in agriculture. More women working in drylands than women working in irrigation scheme reported disease (18.4% versus 10.9%; P < 0.05). Working self or family-owned farms (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-5.2), spraying pesticides (PR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4-3.8), cultivating sugar cane (PR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.3), and cultivating cotton and mangoes (PR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.6) were positively associated with a history of malaria while working in agriculture. This study suggests that certain agricultural activities and types of crop production may increase the risk for malaria among women working in small-scale agriculture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / drug therapy
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / etiology*
  • Agriculture / methods
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Malaria / etiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pesticides
  • Risk Factors
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Pesticides