RESUMO
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers, who are essential workers in the coronavirus global public health emergency, face unique risks to their health as well as longstanding health inequities. This commentary highlights these risks and argues that Internet access represents an underappreciated but critical part of the public health response. The authors first discuss the unique risks farmworkers face. We note the importance of Internet access in the time of physical distancing, the fact that many health outreach workers are no longer visiting camps, the need for telemedicine infrastructure, and the role of Internet access in providing connections to families in communities of origin. We describe existing efforts that have been implemented in North Carolina to raise awareness among public health and health promotion practitioners and researchers. The current coronavirus pandemic demands the attention of medical libraries, public health practitioners, and policy makers to address the digital divide for farmworkers and their families.
Assuntos
Relações Comunidade-Instituição , Fazendeiros , Acesso à Internet , Bibliotecas Médicas , População Rural , Migrantes , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Humanos , North Carolina , Pandemias , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologia , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Children as young as 10 years of age can be hired to work on farms. Many of these hired child farmworkers are Latinx. Although these children experience high rates of injury, little research has addressed work-safety perceptions among hired Latinx child farmworkers. METHODS: For this qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews in North Carolina in 2016 with 30 Latinx child farmworkers, ages 10 to 17. Our analysis used the work-safety culture conceptual framework to delineate their perceptions of the psychological, behavioral, and situational elements of safety culture. RESULTS: The child farmworkers describe a weak work-safety culture. Psychologically, they understand that their parents want them to be safe, but they observe that safety is important to only a fraction of their supervisors and coworkers. Behaviorally, they recognize many of the hazards they confront while working, but it is not clear how well they use this knowledge to mitigate these hazards or to change their behaviors to avoid these hazards. Situationally, several children note that the only safety training they receive is the imperative to "be careful." Most receive little formal training, much of the training they receive is informally provided by family members and coworkers rather than supervisors, and their training is geared more toward how to complete a task than how to complete the task safely. CONCLUSIONS: Child farmworkers perceive that work-safety culture is of limited importance in agriculture. Regulations are needed that improve work-safety culture in agriculture, especially for those vulnerable due to minority age.
Assuntos
Trabalho Infantil , Fazendeiros/psicologia , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/prevenção & controle , Gestão da Segurança/métodos , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , North Carolina , PaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although children as young as 10 years can work in agriculture, little research has addressed their occupational health. This paper describes a large, multicomponent study of hired Latinx child farmworkers, and the characteristics of children participating in this study. METHODS: Survey interviews were conducted in 2017 with 202 Latinx children aged 10-17 years employed in agriculture across North Carolina (NC). RESULTS: Most (81.2%) participants were born in the United States, 37.6% were female, and 21.3% were aged 10-13 years. Most (95.1%) were currently enrolled in school. Thirty-six (17.8%) were migrant workers. 34.7% had worked in agriculture for 1 year; 18.3% had worked 4+ years. 33.7% worked piece rate. 57.4% worked in tobacco. Participants in western NC differed in personal and occupational characteristics from those in eastern NC. CONCLUSIONS: This study has enrolled a large and diverse child farmworker sample. This overview indicates several important issues for further analysis.
Assuntos
Trabalho Infantil/estatística & dados numéricos , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Renda/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , North Carolina , Inquéritos e Questionários , Nicotiana , Migrantes/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: There are substantial health inequalities for seasonal agricultural workers and their families in the United States. One identified inequality is in health literacy. The authors explored the implementation and impact of connecting youth from seasonal farmworker families who participated in a leadership and college pipeline program with Internet access by providing a tablet with a paid cellular data plan and university library-based health literacy training. METHODS: With the support of a National Network of Libraries of Medicine Health Information Outreach Award, we conducted a qualitative, utilization-focused evaluation by conducting semi-structured interviews from December 2017 through February 2018 with middle and high school age participants in the program (n=10). After parental consent and youth assent, we recorded interviews with participants at program activity locations or in their homes. We then utilized inductive thematic analysis with 2 primary coders. RESULTS: We identified four themes: (1) having access to the Internet can be transformative, (2) access resulted in increased knowledge of and interest in one's own and others' health, (3) "Google" is the norm, and (4) participant training increased self-efficacy to determine credible sources and resources. CONCLUSION: Providing Internet access and iPads was possible to implement and resulted in increased utilization of health information. The combination of Internet access with training on information literacy was a key factor in achieving these positive outcomes. The findings suggest the importance of ensuring equitable access to the Internet in efforts to improve educational and health outcomes for seasonal farmworkers and their families.
Assuntos
Fazendeiros/educação , Letramento em Saúde , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto/métodos , Migrantes/educação , Adolescente , Feminino , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Humanos , Internet , Masculino , North Carolina , Projetos Piloto , População RuralRESUMO
Although the health risk to farmworkers of working in hot conditions is recognized, potential for excessive heat exposure in housing affecting rest and recovery has been ignored. We assessed heat index in common and sleeping rooms in 170 North Carolina farmworker camps across a summer and examined associations with time of summer and air conditioning use. We recorded dangerous heat indexes in most rooms, regardless of time or air conditioning. Policies to reduce heat indexes in farmworker housing should be developed.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Trabalhadores Agrícolas/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse por Calor/epidemiologia , Temperatura Alta , Habitação , Migrantes , Doenças dos Trabalhadores Agrícolas/prevenção & controle , Ar Condicionado , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Transtornos de Estresse por Calor/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Masculino , North Carolina/epidemiologia , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We sought to (1) describe observed cooking and eating facilities in migrant farmworker camps, (2) compare observed conditions with existing farmworker housing regulations, and (3) examine associations of violations with camp characteristics. METHODS: We collected data in 182 farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina during the 2010 agricultural season. We compared our observations with 15 kitchen-related housing regulations specified by federal and state housing standards. RESULTS: We observed violations of 8 regulations in at least 10% of camps: improper refrigerator temperature (65.5%), cockroach infestation (45.9%), contaminated water (34.4%), rodent infestation (28.9%), improper flooring (25.8%), unsanitary conditions (21.2%), improper fire extinguisher (19.9%), and holes or leaks in walls (12.1%). Logistic regression showed that violations were related to the time of the agricultural season, housing type, number of dwellings and residents, and presence of workers with H-2A visas. CONCLUSIONS: Cooking and eating facilities for migrant farmworkers fail to comply with regulations in a substantial number of camps. Greater enforcement of regulations, particularly during occupancy during the agricultural season, is needed to protect farmworkers.
Assuntos
Agricultura , Culinária , Habitação/estatística & dados numéricos , Migrantes , Adulto , Agricultura/legislação & jurisprudência , Agricultura/estatística & dados numéricos , Culinária/legislação & jurisprudência , Culinária/normas , Culinária/estatística & dados numéricos , Ingestão de Alimentos , Feminino , Regulamentação Governamental , Habitação/legislação & jurisprudência , Habitação/normas , Humanos , Masculino , North Carolina , Migrantes/legislação & jurisprudência , Migrantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Manual labor in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF) Sector is provided primarily by immigrant workers. Limited information is available that documents the demographic characteristics of these manual workers, the occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities they experience; or the risk factors to which they are exposed. METHODS: A working conference of experts on occupational health in the AgFF Sector was held to address information limitations. This paper provides an overview of the conference. Other reports address organization of work, health outcomes, healthcare access, and safety policy. CONTENTS: This report addresses how best to define the population and the AgFF Sector, occupational exposures for the sector, data limitations, characteristics of immigrant workers, reasons for concern for immigrant workers in the AgFF Sector, regulations, a conceptual model for occupational health, and directions for research and intervention.
Assuntos
Agricultura , Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Agricultura Florestal , Doenças Profissionais/etnologia , Saúde Ocupacional/etnologia , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/etnologia , Pesqueiros , Política de Saúde , Disparidades nos Níveis de Saúde , Humanos , Saúde das Minorias/etnologia , Doenças Profissionais/etiologia , Doenças Profissionais/prevenção & controle , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Exposição Ocupacional/legislação & jurisprudência , Exposição Ocupacional/prevenção & controle , Saúde Ocupacional/educação , Saúde Ocupacional/legislação & jurisprudência , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/etiologia , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/prevenção & controle , Vigilância da População , Fatores de Risco , Sudeste dos Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immigrant workers make up an important portion of the hired workforce in the Agricultural, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) sector, one of the most hazardous industry sectors in the US. Despite the inherent dangers associated with this sector, worker protection is limited. METHODS: This article describes the current occupational health and safety policies and regulatory standards in the AgFF sector and underscores the regulatory exceptions and limitations in worker protections. Immigration policies and their effects on worker health and safety are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on policies and practices in the Southeastern US. RESULTS: Worker protection in the AgFF sector is limited. Regulatory protections are generally weaker than other industrial sectors and enforcement of existing regulations is woefully inadequate. The vulnerability of the AgFF workforce is magnified by worker immigration status. Agricultural workers in particular are affected by a long history of "exceptionalism" under the law as many regulatory protections specifically exclude this workforce. CONCLUSIONS: A vulnerable workforce and high-hazard industries require regulatory protections that, at a minimum, are provided to workers in other industries. A systematic policy approach to strengthen occupational safety and health in the AgFF sector must address both immigration policy and worker protection regulations.
Assuntos
Agricultura/legislação & jurisprudência , Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Agricultura Florestal/legislação & jurisprudência , Regulamentação Governamental , Política de Saúde/legislação & jurisprudência , Saúde Ocupacional/legislação & jurisprudência , Emigração e Imigração/legislação & jurisprudência , Pesqueiros/legislação & jurisprudência , Disparidades nos Níveis de Saúde , Humanos , Saúde das Minorias , Doenças Profissionais/etnologia , Doenças Profissionais/prevenção & controle , Saúde Ocupacional/etnologia , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/etnologia , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/prevenção & controle , Sudeste dos Estados UnidosRESUMO
Background: Latinx child farmworkers, like all vulnerable youth living in rural communities, experience substantial environmental exposures. Eliminating these exposures and improving environmental justice will benefit from the involvement of these child farmworkers. The aims of this article are to document the environmental self-efficacy of Latinx child farmworkers and to delineate the factors associated with environmental self-efficacy. Methods: A total of 169 North Carolina Latinx child farmworkers completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire in 2018 or 2019 that included the 5-point Self-Efficacy for Environmental Action Scale. Results: Self-efficacy for environmental action was strong among the participants, with a mean score of 3.83 (standard deviation 0.48). Girls had a higher mean score than boys (3.95 vs. 3.77; p = 0.01); each year of educational attainment was associated with a 0.05 score increase (p = 0.03). Discussion: These results indicate that Latinx child farmworker have a strong sense of environmental self-efficacy. Organizations supporting the development of Latinx youth should incorporate issues of environmental justice into their programs.
RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate respiratory health problems, including suspected asthma, and healthcare provider utilization among a sample of Latinx hired child farmworkers in rural North Carolina (n = 140). In 2018, a respiratory health questionnaire and breathing tests were collected from Latinx child (11-19 years) farmworkers (35.0% girls and 65.0% boys). Overall, 21.4% of children reported having been told by a medical provider that they had asthma, yet based on a combination of responses to respiratory survey questions, 36.4% or 15% more were identified as having suspected asthma. While 56.4% reported having a regular medical doctor, 38% had not had a medical exam in the past year. Respiratory dysfunction, including suspected, or uncontrolled asthma was prevalent among this group. Latinx children working in agriculture are vulnerable to occupational hazards and exposures and require assurances that they will receive access to high quality healthcare services that include routine respiratory health screenings.
Assuntos
Agricultura/estatística & dados numéricos , Asma/epidemiologia , Trabalho Infantil/estatística & dados numéricos , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Doenças Respiratórias/etiologia , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , North Carolina/epidemiologia , Doenças Respiratórias/epidemiologia , População Rural , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Children as young as ten are legally hired for farm work. In North Carolina, many of these hired children are Latinx; they often work long hours during hot and humid summer conditions. Heat-related illness occurs along a continuum of severity ranging from heat cramps and rashes to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be fatal. The literature on the negative health effects of occupational heat exposure is growing; however, few studies have examined this exposure and health outcomes among child agricultural workers. To understand Latinx child farmworkers' experiences of working in heat, we conducted in-depth interviews (n = 30). To estimate the prevalence of heat-related illness symptoms and associated factors, we conducted survey interviews (n = 165). Heat-related illness is common among these child farmworkers. While children often understand the dangers of working in heat, work organization often prevents their taking precautions. Formal workplace protections to prevent heat-related illness are limited.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Trabalhadores Agrícolas , Transtornos de Estresse por Calor , Adolescente , Agricultura , Criança , Fazendeiros , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino , Temperatura Alta , Humanos , Masculino , North Carolina , MigrantesRESUMO
Children as young as 10 years old are hired to work on farms in the United States (U.S.). These children are largely Latinx. Using interview data collected from 202 North Carolina Latinx child farmworkers in 2017, this analysis documents the heath characteristics and occupational injuries of Latinx child farmworkers and delineates characteristics associated with their health and occupational injuries. Latinx child farmworkers include girls (37.6%) and boys (62.4%), aged 10 to 17 years, with 17.8% being migrant farmworkers. Three-quarters reported receiving medical and dental care in the past year. Respiratory (15.8%) and vision (20.3%) problems were prevalent. Girls more than boys, and younger more than older children had greater health service utilization. Occupational injuries were common, with 26.2% reporting a traumatic injury, 44.1% a dermatological injury, 42.6% a musculoskeletal injury, and 45.5% heat-related illness in the past year. Age increased the odds of reporting work injuries and heat-related illness, and being a non-migrant reduced the odds of reporting work injuries. These results emphasize the need for greater documentation of child farmworker occupational health and safety. They underscore the need to change occupational safety policy to ensure that children working in agriculture have the same protections as those working in all other U.S. industries.
Assuntos
Agricultura/estatística & dados numéricos , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Saúde Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , North Carolina/epidemiologia , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/classificação , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/etiologia , PrevalênciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Using scientific results to inform policy that improves health and well-being of vulnerable community members is essential to community-based participatory research (CBPR). OBJECTIVES: We describe "policy briefs," a mechanism developed to apply the results of CBPR projects with migrant and seasonal farmworkers to policy changes. LESSONS LEARNED: Policy briefs are two-page summaries of published research that address a single policy issue using language and graphics to make the science accessible to diverse audiences. Policy brief topics are selected by community advocates, based on collaborative research, and address a specific policy or regulation. Development is an iterative process of discussion with community representatives. Briefs have been used to provide information to advocates, state and national policymakers, and the public. CONCLUSIONS: Disseminating CBPR results to address policy is needed. Collaborating with community partners to produce policy briefs ensures that information about concerns and struggles reflects their priorities.
Assuntos
Pesquisa Participativa Baseada na Comunidade , Fazendeiros , Política de Saúde , Disseminação de Informação , Migrantes , Humanos , North CarolinaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Providing health program information to vulnerable communities, such as Latino farmworkers, is difficult. This analysis describes the manner in which farmworkers receive information about the Affordable Care Act, comparing farmworkers with other Latinos. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 100 Latino farmworkers and 100 urban Latino North Carolina residents in 2015. RESULTS: Most farmworkers had received health information from a community organization. Trusted sources for health information were health care providers and community organizations. Sources that would influence decisions to enroll were Latino nurses and doctors, religious leaders, and family members. Traditional media, including oral presentation and printed material at the doctor's office, were preferred by the majority of farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Farmworkers used traditional electronic media: radio, television, and telephone. More non-farmworkers used current electronic media: e-mail and Internet. CONCLUSIONS: Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers prefer traditional media in the context of a health care setting. They are willing to try contemporary electronic media for this information.
Assuntos
Hispânico ou Latino/psicologia , Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act/estatística & dados numéricos , Acesso à Informação , Adulto , Idoso , Atitude Frente a Saúde , Fazendeiros/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , North Carolina/etnologia , Projetos Piloto , Migrantes/psicologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The substandard nature of the housing in which most farmworkers live has detrimental effects on their health, as well as on their children's health and development. However, little research has directly documented associations between farmworker housing and health; existing research is not always comparable due to differences in design and measurement. Comparative data can help determine actual causal links between housing characteristics and farmworker health and help to evaluate the efficacy of current housing policy. The goal of this paper is to provide guidelines promoting comparable research on farmworker housing and the association of this housing with health. This paper reviews general concepts relevant to measuring farmworker housing and health, issues that should be considered in designing farmworker housing and health research, data collection methods, and measures. It concludes with recommendations for a research agenda on farmworker housing and health.
Assuntos
Coleta de Dados/métodos , Fazendeiros , Nível de Saúde , Habitação/normas , Migrantes , Agroquímicos/normas , Alérgenos , Comunicação , Aglomeração , Serviços Médicos de Emergência/métodos , Meio Ambiente , Características da Família , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Habitação/legislação & jurisprudência , Humanos , Projetos de Pesquisa , Características de Residência , Isolamento Social , Meios de Transporte/economia , Meios de Transporte/métodos , Estados Unidos , Abastecimento de Água/normasRESUMO
Safety, security, hygiene, and privacy in migrant farmworker housing have not previously been documented, yet these attributes are important for farmworker quality of life and dignity. This analysis describes the safety, security, hygiene, and privacy of migrant farmworker housing and delineates camp characteristics that are associated with these attributes, using data collected in 183 eastern North Carolina migrant farmworker camps in 2010. Migrant farmworker housing is deficient. For example, 73.8 percent of housing had structural damage and 52.7 percent had indoor temperatures that were not safe. Farmworkers in 83.5 percent of the housing reported that they did not feel they or their possessions were secure. Bathing or toileting privacy was absent in 46.2 percent of the housing. Camps with residents having H-2A visas or North Carolina Department of Labor certificates of inspection posted had better safety, security, and hygiene. Regulations addressing the quality of migrant farmworker housing are needed.