Authors : Aksanti Bahizire Philippe; Kasereka Syauswa; Charles-Lwanga Bandima Apalanginda; John P. Hawuory; Mumbere Kilumbiro Serges; Yemba Baruani Ahuka A.

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/mrybf684

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/34sudfrd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan568

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Pesticides are chemicals designed to control organisms considered harmful, and play a central role in modern agriculture, enabling farmers to protect crops from insects, weeds, fungi, and rodents. However, while these substances boost productivity, they can pose serious health risks when misused. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and particularly in the Nyiragongo Health Zone of North Kivu Province, pesticide use is pervasive. Despite regulatory frameworks, banned and highly hazardous chemicals, such as Dichlorvos, DDT, and Thiodan, remain widely available through informal trade networks and continually expose farmers and their households to significant risks of adverse exposure and illnesses. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics of farmers and adverse /hazardous exposure to chemical pesticides in the Nyiragongo health zone in North Kivu, DRCongo. The study used a retrospective matched case-control design targeting 183,988 farmers in the Nyiragongo health zone from which a sample of 302 farmers selected using. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that farmers in the Nyiragongo Health Zone are disproportionately exposed to chemical pesticides, with socio-demographic factors such as age, monthly income, and years of residence significantly influencing their vulnerability. Older farmers and long-term residents face higher risks due to cumulative exposure, while farmers with lower incomes are less able to afford protective equipment, exacerbating their susceptibility to respiratory illnesses. Although gender, education, and marital status did not show statistically significant associations.The study therefore recommends that farmers should be provided with regular, context-specific training on safe pesticide handling, application, and storage. Provincial and national authorities should develop and enforce stricter regulations on pesticide distribution, labeling, and usage, ensuring hazardous products are restricted and safe alternatives promoted.

Keywords : Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Banned Pesticides, Respiratory Disease, Harmful Exposure, Case-Control.

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