Analysis of Farmers' Compliance with PPE Use in Pesticide Use on Farms

Abstract

The use of pesticides in agriculture poses significant health risks to farmers, mainly when personal protective equipment (PPE) is not used correctly. Despite widespread pesticide application in farming practices, compliance with PPE usage remains low due to various individual, behavioral, and systemic factors. This study aims to evaluate the key determinants influencing farmers' compliance with PPE use during pesticide application. A literature review was conducted using sources from DOAJ, PubMed, and ScienceDirect published between 2020 and 2025, with search terms including "Personal Protective Equipment", "PPE compliance", "Protective behavior", "Farmers", and "Pesticide use". The review identified knowledge, risk perception, economic limitations, and institutional support as the main factors affecting PPE use. Low awareness, discomfort, limited accessibility, and weak regulatory enforcement contribute to unsafe pesticide-handling practices among farmers. Improving farmers' compliance with PPE requires a multidimensional approach that combines education, improved access to affordable PPE, behavior change strategies, and stronger institutional policies. Integrating these efforts can significantly reduce health risks and promote safer agricultural practices.