THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDE EXPOSURE TO FINE MOTOR SKILLS IN CHILDREN AGED 7-10 YEARS FROM BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA

N.J. Molina Achury¹, J.A. Benavides Piracon², Y.A. Vasquez Lozada³, M.A. Quintana Cortes¹

Background: Colombia's agricultural development model is based on the consumption and the use of pesticides which endangers the environment and the men's health.In children, prenatal and postnatal exposure to pesticides have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Several investigations have shown negative relationships with motor and language abilities as well as an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder and attention problems in school-age children.

Purpose: To establish the relationship between exposure to pesticides and fine motor skills,in children aged 7-10 years from Usme and Sumapaz in Bogotá.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study.Study participants included mothers and children (n=232) who live in the rural areas of Sumapaz and Usme. Children who had lived in rural areas all the time, who had no history of neurological diagnosis, and who were between the ages 7-10 years were included. We found out about the agricultural pesticide exposure by a questionnaire and fine motor skills were evaluated with the Grooved pegboard (GP) and the Finger tapping test (FTT).It was used a multivariate analysis with linear regression models which were adjusted due to different conditions such as the mother's educational level, the sex of the boys and girls,and economic income to establish the relationship between exposure of pesticides and fine motor skills.

Results: It was observed exposure to pesticides during pregnancy, the 12.7% of the mothers applied pesticides on their farm, 63.9% lived with people who applied pesticides, and 34% stored chemicals.To motor tests the 25th and 75th percentiles were calculated.In the multivariate analysis the children exposed to pesticides generally performed less well on the fine motor tests,however, there were no statistically significant differences.An association was found specifically in the right FTT test that corresponds to poorer test performance in children worked in crops (unadjusted OR 1.87 CI 1107-3.183) (adjusted OR = 1.85 CI 1.09-3.16).It was found 116 boys (63.8% of whom worked in crops and 9.5% applied pesticides), and 116 were girls (50% of whom worked in crops and 0.9% applied pesticides).To motor tests the 25th and 75th percentiles were calculated.In the multivariate analysis, the children exposed to pesticides generally showed lower performance in the fine motor tests;however, there were no statistically significant differences. It was found an association specifically in the right FTT test that belongs to poorer test performance in children who worked in crops (unadjusted OR 1.87 CI 1107-3.183) (adjusted OR = 1.85 CI 1.09-3.16).

Conclusion(s): Exposure to prenatal and postnatal pesticides has effects on fine motor skills,it was observed a decrease on the Fine Motor Finger Tapping test in children who work in crops.It is important to generate strategies in order to strengthen and improve children's motor skills based on working with families,educational institutions, and health institutions in rural areas.

Implications: This type of research allows the physiotherapist to explore a different context such as the rural area, in addition it motivates other professionals to work in these spaces that involves dynamic processes which were analyzed from different areas of knowledge.Furthemore,we will hope to guide the schools to develop a motor skills program to improve these abilities.

Funding, acknowledgements: This study is funded by Minciencias, the Universidad EAN, Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Subredsur through the contrac 619-2018.

Keywords: Pesticide, Motor skills, Rural community

Topic: Community based rehabilitation

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Subred Integrada de Servicios de Salud Sur

Committee: Comité de Ética de Investigación

Ethics number: Acta del 29/09/2017