Part of the solution - an engaged scholarship approach for the sustainable reduction of street pesticides and poisonings

In low-income townships, pests are rife, a nuisance and are vectors of disease. Although alternatives are available, chemical means of pest control is often the first resort due to lack of knowledge of other methods, convenience and presumed efficacy. The demand for chemical pest control has created...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global public health 2019-10, Vol.14 (10), p.1535-1545
Main Authors: Godsmark, Christie Nicole, Rother, Hanna-Andrea
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agrochemicals
Disease
Disease control
Efficacy
Engaged scholarship
Environmental Health
Fellowships and Scholarships
Humans
Interest groups
Low income groups
Organic chemistry
Participatory research
Pest control
Pest Control - organization & administration
Pesticides
Pests
Poverty
Problem solving
Public Health
Scholarship
Socioeconomic factors
South Africa
street pesticides
Sustainability
Townships
Urban Population
Vendors
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Summary:In low-income townships, pests are rife, a nuisance and are vectors of disease. Although alternatives are available, chemical means of pest control is often the first resort due to lack of knowledge of other methods, convenience and presumed efficacy. The demand for chemical pest control has created a unique business opportunity for informal vendors in South Africa servicing predominately low socio-economic communities. That is the selling of 'street pesticides', which are either containing agricultural pesticides too toxic for domestic use or illegally imported products. Poisonings from street pesticide exposures, particularly in children, are increasingly common and, along with pest-related diseases, creates a double burden of disease. Solutions are needed to decrease these incidences and to develop pest control strategies that are low- or non-toxic. It is imperative that, for sustainable problem-solving, all stakeholders, including vendors, be part of the solution in tackling this public health issue. This manuscript outlines an engaged scholarship approach for developing a sustainable resolution for reducing street pesticide use. This cyclical and iterative approach encompasses: the establishment of relationships, co-creation of solutions, co-implementation, co-monitoring, co-evaluation, co-reflection and co-re-design. The significance of the research and proposed engagement are discussed, as are anticipated challenges.
ISSN:1744-1692
1744-1706
DOI:10.1080/17441692.2019.1590619