Occupational safety and health risks of farmers: A qualitative study in Guyana.

This article focuses on the perceptions of farmers and Ministry of Agriculture officials in Guyana regarding pesticide use, safety practices, regulatory enforcement, and strategies to improve occupational health outcomes. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach with interviews of 16 farmers and 16 agricultural extension officers, the study identified seven key themes: barriers to proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), challenges in safe chemical use, health impacts of unsafe exposure, difficulties in training and adoption of safety practices, lack of policies and monitoring, absence of quality control in local produce, and lack of physical safety measures and insurance. The findings reveal a disconnect between ministry officials' emphasis on systemic gaps and farmers' focus on practical barriers, highlighting the need for participatory, context-sensitive interventions that integrate behavioral, social, and institutional factors to enhance pesticide safety and farmer health in Guyana.