An Investigation of Health Literacy & Cancer Screenings in Agricultural Workers

Agricultural workers may experience various health problems as a result of exposure to toxic substances, particularly to pesticides. Adequate health literacy is necessary to protect and enhance the well-being of agricultural workers. Agricultural workers have a poor rate of participation in cancer screening. This study aimed to explore the relationship between health literacy levels and participation in cancer screening among agricultural workers.

This descriptive study was conducted with 340 agricultural workers between December 2023 and May 2024. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire, Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32), and Cancer Screening Participation Status Questionnaire.

Participants were found to have a 32.6% adequate health literacy level. In this study, of the female agricultural workers, 37.3% had HPV DNA testing, 35.7% had mammography, 56.7% performed breast self-examination, and 26.3% had clinical breast examination. Among the participants, 27.6% participated in the fecal occult blood test and 21.1% in colonoscopy. An urologist examined 38.8% of male agricultural workers, and 34.9% had their prostate specific antigen levels checked. The health literacy levels of individuals who were older, female, single, of lower education level, had more annual working time and daily working hours in agriculture were significantly lower. A statistically significant relationship was found between participants' status of performing breast self-examination or participating in prostate cancer screenings and their health literacy levels.

Two-thirds of agricultural workers did not have adequate health literacy. The percentage of participants who took part in cancer screening did not exceed one-third. Therefore, qualitative studies should be conducted to investigate why agricultural workers do not participate in cancer screening initiatives to increase health literacy should be planned, and cancer screening should be recommended to agricultural workers by health professionals. Furthermore, future efforts to improve the health literacy of agricultural workers should focus on target individuals who are older, female, single, of lower education level, and more experienced (more daily working hours and years) in agriculture.