Assessing the Czech Version of the Inventory of Personality Organization in Relation to Borderline Personality Disorder in the ICD-11.

The increasing reliance on chemical pesticides in developing agricultural systems has raised significant concerns regarding unsafe application practices, occupational exposure, and food safety risks. In many low- and middle-income countries, limited regulatory enforcement and inadequate farmer training contribute to the misuse of pesticides, including over-application, improper handling, and poor adherence to withholding periods (WHP). These unsafe practices not only compromise farmer health but also increase the risk of pesticide residues in food and environmental contamination. Pesticide exposure among farmers is widely recognized as a major global public health issue. Direct exposure occurs during mixing, loading, and spraying, while indirect exposure arises from contaminated soil, water, and agricultural produce. Acute health effects include nausea, dizziness, and skin irritation, whereas chronic exposure has been associated with neurological disorders, endocrine disruption, reproductive complications, and cancer. These risks are particularly pronounced in smallholder farming systems, where awareness and adoption of safety measures remain limited. Recent studies in developing countries have highlighted persistent gaps between farmers’ knowledge and actual practices, indicating that awareness alone does not necessarily translate into safe pesticide use. Bangladesh has experienced a rapid increase in pesticide consumption over recent decades, rising from approximately 4,000 metric tons in the 1970s to over 40,000 metric tons in recent years, with usage growing at an estimated annual rate of around 10% and reaching about 1.8–1.9 kg per hectare of cropland, reflecting broader trends of agricultural intensification in developing regions. A considerable proportion of pesticides used are moderately to highly hazardous, and their application is often inadequately regulated. Similar patterns have been reported in other South Asian countries, where unsafe pesticide handling, low use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and poor compliance with safety guidelines remain prevalent. These issues are further exacerbated in ecologically sensitive environments such as riverine and floodplain agricultural systems, where frequent cropping and proximity to water bodies increase the risks of environmental contamination and human exposure. Despite growing evidence on pesticide use and farmer practices in Bangladesh, existing studies have primarily focused on general knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), with limited emphasis on detailed usage patterns including types of pesticides used, types and concentration of active ingredients used, comparative assessments across regions, and associated health outcomes. In particular, there is a lack of comprehensive data on pesticide use behaviors in riverine farming systems, which are both agriculturally important and environmentally vulnerable. Moreover, the relationship between farmers’ knowledge, actual practices, and health outcomes remains insufficiently explored, especially in comparative contexts. This study is conceptually grounded in the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) framework, which posits that knowledge influences attitudes and, subsequently, practices; however, discrepancies between knowledge and behavior may arise due to contextual, economic, and institutional factors. By examining pesticide use patterns, safety behaviors, and health outcomes, this study also considers the behavioral risk pathway linking unsafe practices to occupational exposure and health effects. Given these gaps, the present study provides a comparative assessment of pesticide usage patterns, safety practices, and self-reported health impacts among farmers in two riverine districts of Bangladesh (Tangail and Sirajganj). The findings are expected to contribute to a broader understanding of pesticide use behaviors in riverine and smallholder farming systems, offering insights relevant to similar agricultural settings in other developing countries. By highlighting the gaps between knowledge, practices, and health outcomes, this study provides evidence that can inform policy, training programs, and risk reduction strategies at both national and international levels. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to assess pesticide usage patterns, safety practices, and exposure among farmers in the Jamuna riverside regions of Tangail and Sirajganj districts. A cross-sectional approach was chosen to capture a snapshot of prevailing pesticide handling behaviors, protective measures, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) at a specific point in time. This design allowed for the simultaneous collection of information on socio-demographic characteristics, pesticide application practices, safety measures, and self-reported health effects. The study received ethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee of the Department of Food Technology and Nutritional Science under approval number