Characterizing the low wage immigrant workforce: a comparative analysis of the health disparities among selected occupations in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Am J Ind Med
; 57(5): 516-26, 2014 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23840014
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study estimates job-related risks among common low wage occupations (cleaning, construction, food service, cashier/baggers, and factory workers) held by predominantly Haitian, El Salvadorian, and Brazilian immigrants living or working in Somerville, Massachusetts.METHODS:
A community-based cross-sectional survey on immigrant occupational health was conducted between 2006 and 2009 and logistic regression was used to assess the job-related risks among the most common low wage occupations.RESULTS:
Construction workers reported significantly higher health risks, and lower access to occupational health services than the other occupations. Compared to cashier/baggers, the reference population in this study, cleaners reported significantly lower access to health and safety and work training and no knowledge of workers' compensation. Factory workers reported significantly lower work training compared to cashier/baggers. Food service workers reported the least access to doctors compared to the other occupations.CONCLUSION:
We found significant variability in risks among different low wage immigrant occupations. The type of occupation independently contributed to varying levels of risks among these jobs. We believe our findings to be conservative and recommend additional inquiry aimed at assuring the representativeness of our findings.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Salaries and Fringe Benefits
/
Occupational Health
/
Health Status Disparities
/
Emigrants and Immigrants
/
Occupational Injuries
/
Health Services Accessibility
/
Occupational Diseases
/
Occupational Health Services
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America central
/
America do norte
/
America do sul
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Brasil
/
Caribe
/
El salvador
/
Haiti
Language:
En
Year:
2014
Type:
Article