Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women farmers concerning tobacco agriculture in a municipality in Southern Brazil

Abstract: The study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women farmers working in tobacco production concerning the social, environmental, and health impacts of this economic activity. Focus groups were used in this qualitative study, and themes were explored until reaching saturation. The study was conducted in a municipality (county) in southern Brazil in 2013 and included 64 women farmers. The discussions revealed participants’ familiarity with health problems associated with workloads in tobacco production: green tobacco sickness, pesticide poisoning, musculoskeletal disorders, and others. The discussions also revealed a concern with the negative impacts of tobacco agriculture on the environment. They also revealed apprehension concerning decisions on switching to alternatives for sustainable agricultural production, emphasizing that on-going and systematic government support would be necessary for such a transition. Women farmers identified various factors that contribute to the persistence of tobacco farming: small holdings for cultivation, lack of guarantees for marketing crops, and indebtedness to tobacco companies. The study showed that an integrated approach is needed to deal with tobacco farmers’ problems, considering a balance between farmers’ beliefs and government decisions. This approach, in keeping with the recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, may help strengthen policies and measures to promote health and sustainable local development.

摘要：本研究旨在探究从事烟草种植的女性农户对该经济活动所产生的社会、环境与健康影响的认知、态度及实践行为。本研究为质性研究（qualitative study），采用焦点小组法（focus groups）开展调研，直至收集到的主题达到信息饱和状态后停止数据采集。该研究于2013年在巴西南部的一个县开展，共纳入64名女性农户作为研究对象。讨论结果显示，参与者熟知烟草种植劳作相关的健康问题：包括烟草绿病（green tobacco sickness）、农药中毒、肌肉骨骼疾病及其他相关病症。讨论同时还揭示了她们对烟草农业所带来的负面环境影响的担忧。此外，研究还发现她们对于转向可持续农业生产替代方案存在顾虑，强调此类转型需要政府提供持续且系统的扶持。女性农户指出了烟草种植业持续存在的多项诱因：种植地块规模狭小、作物销售缺乏保障，以及对烟草公司的债务负担。研究表明，需采用整合式方法解决烟草农户面临的各类问题，兼顾农户的认知信念与政府决策的平衡。该方法契合《世界卫生组织烟草控制框架公约》（WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control）的相关建议，有助于强化促进健康与推动地方可持续发展的政策与举措。