Health Effects of Pesticide Use Among Indonesian Women Farmers

This retrospective cohort of 161 female spray operators and 352 age-matched women rice farmer controls was conducted in West Sumatra Indonesia. It was designed to assess the reproductive impacts of pesticide use. Exposure was determined through detailed field observations and interviews about historical pesticide use. Data was gathered on socio-economic characteristics, maternal health risk factors and reproductive outcomes by teams of local midwives trained for the study. Reproductive outcomes were compared between the exposed and nonexposed cohorts as well as those pregnancies among the sprayers before and after commencing pesticide use. The rates of stillbirths, abortions, early neonatal deaths, and low birth weight were not greater among the pesticide users. Although there were more cases of undocumented birth defects, the difference was not significant. Controlling for other independently associated maternal risk factors and socio-economic factors did not alter the results.