Epidemiological profile of farmworkers from the state of Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the epidemiological profile of farmworkers exposed to pesticides in the city of Casimiro de Abreu, Rio de Janeiro State. Method: cross-sectional study, conducted through a questionnaire. The collected data were typed in spreadsheet and processed in the R software. Results: the predominance of female participants, between 40 and 60 years old, married, with some elementary education was observed. Furthermore, the family labor and the production for their own consumption and trade prevail. Herbicide is the most widely used pesticide. Most informants present poisoning symptoms, as they do not use Personal Protective Equipment nor sunscreen. Breast cancer is the most frequent in families; among the participants, 31% had hypertension and 6.4% diabetes. Conclusion: a population vulnerable to environmental and occupational risks, specially the middle-aged group and women, sets up a profile marked by regional differences.