Research Grant Title:
A community trial to determine whether 'Safe Storage' reduces pesticide self-poisoning in rural Asia
Application ID: Welcome Trust-090958, UoE-R41512
Chief Investigator: Dr. Michael Eddleston
Administering Institution: University of Edinburgh/SACR
Year Funding Commenced: July 2010
Funding period: July 2010 to June 2014
Summary of the project: The aim of this work is to determine whether the provision of lockable storage containers to poor households in rural Asia can reduce the incidence of intentional pesticide self-poisoning. Secondary questions include the effect of these containers on unintentional pesticide poisoning in children and overall self-harm.

The aim of this work is to set up a large community-based cluster randomized trial of 162 villages in rural Sri Lanka to determine the effectiveness and cost of the provision of safe storage devices to households. This study will provide definitive evidence concerning the effectiveness of safe storage that will be relevant across Asia. It has the active support and involvement of the Provincial Department of Health, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, and WHO. We will simultaneously examine the effect of these devices on the incidence of self-harm in general and on unintentional paediatric pesticide poisoning.
Progress of the grant: First year