RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although children 10-17 years can be hired to work in agriculture, little research has addressed possible musculoskeletal injuries. Children may be at particular risk for these injuries because of the repetitive and load bearing nature of work tasks. Existing research relies on child workers to self-report musculoskeletal injuries. METHODS: In 2017, 202 Latinx child farmworkers ages 10-17 employed across North Carolina completed survey interviews. In 2018, 145 of these children (94 [64.8%] current farmworkers) completed a physical examination and second interview. The examination obtained findings for upper and lower extremity as well as back injuries. RESULTS: Positive indicators for musculoskeletal symptoms were few in either current or former child farmworkers. The knee was most common site for positive indicators with 15.4% of children having at least one. Combining all anatomical sites, 29.0% of children had at least one positive indicator, with no significant difference between current and former farmworkers. Overall, boys had significantly more indicators of knee injuries than girls (21.3% vs. 4.1%), indicators of ankle injuries were found only in the youngest workers (9.5% of children 11-13 years), and significantly fewer current farmworkers had indicators of lower back injuries than former farmworkers (6.4% vs. 17.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Expectations of injuries come from previous studies using child farmworker self-reports, adult farmworker injury rates, and sports medicine pediatric findings. Hired child farmworkers may not perform activities as repetitious and load-bearing as children in sports training or adult farmworkers. Additional research using physical examination is needed to confirm these findings.
Assuntos
Trabalho Infantil , Migrantes , Adolescente , Agricultura , Criança , Fazendeiros , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino , Humanos , Masculino , North Carolina/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although pesticides have adverse effects on child health and development, little research has examined pesticide exposure among child farmworkers. This analysis addresses two specific aims: (1) describes pesticide exposure among Latinx child farmworkers in North Carolina, and (2) delineates factors associated with this pesticide exposure. METHODS: In 2018 (n = 173) and 2019 (n = 156) Latinx child farmworkers completed interviews and wore silicone wristbands for a single day to measure pesticide exposure. Wristbands were analyzed for 70 pesticides. RESULTS: Most Latinx child farmworkers were exposed to multiple pesticides; the most frequent were pyrethroids (69.9% in 2018, 67.9% in 2019), organochlorines (51.4% in 2018, 55.1% in 2019), and organophosphates (51.4% in 2018, 34.0% in 2019). Children were exposed to a mean of 2.15 pesticide classes in 2018 and 1.91 in 2019, and to a mean of 4.06 pesticides in 2018 and 3.34 in 2019. Younger children (≤15 years) had more detections than older children; children not currently engaged in farm work had more detections than children currently engaged in farm work. Migrant child farmworkers had more detections than nonmigrants. For specific pesticides with at least 20 detections, detections and concentrations were generally greater among children not currently engaged in farm work than children currently engaged. CONCLUSIONS: Children who live in farmworker communities are exposed to a plethora of pesticides. Although further research is needed to document the extent of pesticide exposure and its health consequences, sufficient information is available to inform the policy needed to eliminate this pesticide exposure in agricultural communities.
Assuntos
Exposição Ocupacional , Praguicidas , Adolescente , Agricultura , Criança , Fazendeiros , Humanos , North Carolina/epidemiologia , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Praguicidas/análiseRESUMO
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
BACKGROUND: Our aim was to describe alcohol consumption behavior of male Latino migrant farmworkers, compare their alcohol consumption behavior with that of other male Latino immigrants, and determine factors associated with risk for alcohol dependence among Latino immigrant workers. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were drawn from baseline interviews conducted as part of a larger community-based participatory research project examining the cognitive and neurological outcomes of pesticide exposure. A total of 235 farmworkers and 212 nonfarmworkers completed interviews between May and August 2012. RESULTS: Although 17.5% of the North Carolina Latino farmworkers report never having drunk alcohol, and a total of 34.5% report not having drunk alcohol in the previous 3 months, 48.5% engaged in heavy episodic drinking (HED) in the previous 3 months, and 23.8% frequently engaged in HED during this period. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers did not differ significantly in alcohol consumption behavior. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers did differ significantly in each component of the CAGE scale, with 37.9% of farmworkers and 16.0% of nonfarmworkers being at risk for alcohol dependence (p < 0.0001). Significant factors for being at risk for alcohol dependence were stress (odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.03, 1.09) and being a farmworker (odds ratio 3.58, 95% confidence interval 2.12, 6.06). Being married reduced the risk of alcohol dependence (odds ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.23, 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Latino farmworkers and nonfarmworkers consume relatively large amounts of alcohol and engage in HED at relatively high rates. Latino farmworkers have very high rates of risk for alcohol dependence. Policy changes and public health interventions are needed to address these concerns for a population that is vital to the agricultural economy.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/efeitos adversos , Alcoolismo/etiologia , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Migrantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Idoso , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/epidemiologia , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/etnologia , Alcoolismo/epidemiologia , Alcoolismo/etnologia , Fazendeiros/psicologia , Hispânico ou Latino/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , North Carolina/epidemiologia , Fatores de Risco , Migrantes/psicologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: This analysis describes urinary cotinine levels of North Carolina Latino farmworkers, compares cotinine levels of farmworkers to those of Latinos non-farmworkers, determines factors associated with farmworker cotinine levels, and determines if differences in farmworker and non-farmworker cotinine levels are associated with smoking. METHODS: Data are from 63 farmworkers and 44 non-farmworkers who participated in a larger study of occupational exposures. Questionnaire data and urine samples collected in 2012 and 2013 are analyzed. RESULTS: Farmworkers had urinary cotinine levels that were far greater than the non-farmworker group. Geometric mean (GM) urinary cotinine levels for farmworkers were 1808.22ng/ml in 2012, and 396.03ng/ml in 2013; corresponding GM levels for non-farmworkers were 4.68ng/ml and 9.03ng/ml. Farmworker GM cotinine levels were associated with harvesting tobacco (1242.77ng/ml vs. 471.26ng/ml; P = .0048), and working in wet shoes (1356.41ng/ml vs. 596.93ng/ml; P = .0148). Smoking did not account for cotinine level differences; the GM cotinine level for farmworkers who did not smoke was 541.31ng/ml; it was 199.40ng/ml for non-farmworkers who did smoke. CONCLUSION: North Carolina farmworkers experience large nicotine doses. The long-term health effects of these doses are not known. Although procedures to reduce occupational nicotine exposure are known, no changes in work practices or in policies to protect workers have been implemented. Research on the health effects of occupational nicotine exposure must become a priority. Current knowledge of occupational transdermal nicotine exposure must be used to improve occupational safety practice and policy for tobacco workers. IMPLICATIONS: This study documents the heavy burden of nicotine exposure and dose experienced by tobacco workers in North Carolina. Hundreds of thousands of farmworkers and farmers in the United States and Canada, as well as agricultural workers around the world, share this burden of nicotine exposure and dose. These results support the need to change work practices and regulations to protect workers. They also document the need to delineate the health effects of long-term exposure to high transdermal nicotine doses.
Assuntos
Cotinina/urina , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Nicotiana , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Adulto , Idoso , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , North Carolina , Saúde OcupacionalRESUMO
PURPOSE: The occupational risk to farmworkers, particularly chronic exposure to pesticides, is an acknowledged environmental and work-related health problem. Epigenetics has recently been shown to contribute to a number of complex diseases and traits, including measures of cognitive function and preclinical neurodegenerative disease. We sought to determine whether changes in DNA methylation existed between farmworker and non-farmworker populations and to identify the genes most likely involved in those changes. METHODS: Eighty-three farmworkers and 60 non-farmworkers were selected from PACE4, a community-based, participatory research project comparing occupational exposures between immigrant Latino farmworker and non-farmworker manual workers. Measurements of DNA methylation were performed with the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, at the beginning and end of the 2012 growing season. Bonferroni adjustment was used to identify significant findings (p = 1.03 × 10(-7), based on 485,000 tested methylation sites), although less stringent criteria (i.e., p ≤ 1 × 10(-6)) were used to identify sites of interest. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) databases were used to help identify the most likely functional genes for each associated methylation site. RESULTS: Methylation at 36 CpG sites, located in or near 72 genes, differed between the two groups (p ≤ 1 × 10(-6)). The difference between the two groups was generally due to an increase in methylation in the farmworkers and a slight decrease in methylation in the non-farmworkers. Enrichment was observed in several biological pathways, including those involved in the immune response, as well as growth hormone signaling, role of BRCA1 in DNA damage response, p70S6K signaling, and PI3K signaling in B lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We identified considerable changes in DNA methylation at 36 CpG sites over the growing season that differed between farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Dominant pathways included immune-related (HLA) processes, as well as a number of diverse biological systems. Further studies are necessary to determine which exposures or behaviors are responsible for the observed changes, and whether these changes eventually lead to disease-related phenotypes in this population.
Assuntos
Metilação de DNA , Fazendeiros , Hispânico ou Latino/genética , Doenças Profissionais/genética , Estações do Ano , Adulto , Ilhas de CpG/genética , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , North Carolina , MigrantesRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We used geographic information systems (GIS) to delineate whether farmworker labor camps were hidden and to determine whether hidden camps differed from visible camps in terms of physical and resident characteristics. METHODS: We collected data using observation, interview, and public domain GIS data for 180 farmworker labor camps in east central North Carolina. A hidden camp was defined as one that was at least 0.15 miles from an all-weather road or located behind natural or manufactured objects. Hidden camps were compared with visible camps in terms of physical and resident characteristics. RESULTS: More than one third (37.8%) of the farmworker labor camps were hidden. Hidden camps were significantly larger (42.7% vs 17.0% with 21 or more residents; P ≤ .001; and 29.4% vs 13.5% with 3 or more dwellings; P = .002) and were more likely to include barracks (50% vs 19.6%; P ≤ .001) than were visible camps. CONCLUSIONS: Poor housing conditions in farmworker labor camps often go unnoticed because they are hidden in the rural landscape, increasing farmworker vulnerability. Policies that promote greater community engagement with farmworker labor camp residents to reduce structural vulnerability should be considered.
Assuntos
Migrantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Agricultura , Sistemas de Informação Geográfica , Habitação/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , North Carolina/epidemiologia , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: While most motor vehicle crash (MVC)-related injuries have been decreasing, one study showed increases in MVC-related spinal fractures from 1994 to 2002 in Wisconsin. To our knowledge, no studies evaluating nationwide trends of MVC-related thoracolumbar spine injuries have been published. Such fractures can cause pain, loss of functionality or even death. If the incidence of such injuries is increasing, it may provide a motive for reassessment of current vehicle safety design. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We questioned whether the incidence of thoracolumbar spine injuries increased in the United States population with time (between 1998 and 2011), and if there was an increased incidence of thoracolumbar injuries, whether there were identifiable compensatory "trade-off injury" patterns, such as reductions in sacropelvic injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained for retrospective review of three national databases: the National Trauma Databank® (NTDB®), 2002-2006, National Automotive Sampling System (NASS), 2000-2011, and National Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1998-2007. In each database, the total number of MVC-related injuries and the number of MVC-related thoracolumbar injuries per year were identified using appropriate Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) or ICD-9 codes. Sacropelvic injuries also were identified to evaluate their potential as trade-off injuries. Poisson regression models adjusting for age were used to analyze trends in the data with time. RESULTS: All databases showed increases in MVC-related thoracolumbar spine injuries when adjusting for age with time. These age-adjusted relative annual percent increases ranged from 8.22% (95% CI, 5.77%-10.72%; p<0.001) using AIS of 2 or more (AIS2 +) injury codes in the NTDB®, 8.59% (95% CI, 5.88%-11.37%; p<0.001) using ICD-9 codes in the NTDB®, 8.12% (95% CI, 7.20%-9.06%; p<0.001) using ICD-9 codes in the NIS, and 8.10 % (95% CI 5.00%-11.28%; p<0.001) using AIS2+ injury codes in the NASS. As these thoracolumbar injuries have increased, there has been no consistent trend toward a compensatory reduction in terms of sacropelvic injuries. CONCLUSIONS: While other studies have shown that rates of many MVC-related injuries are declining with time, our data show increases in the incidence of thoracolumbar injury. Although more sensitive screening tools likely have resulted in earlier and increased recognition of these injuries, it cannot be stated for certain that this is the only driver of the increased incidence observed in this study. As seatbelt use has continued to increase, this trend may be the result of thoracolumbar injuries as trade-offs for other injuries, although in our study we did not see a compensatory decrease in sacropelvic injuries. Investigation evaluating the root of this pattern is warranted.
Assuntos
Acidentes de Trânsito/tendências , Vértebras Lombares/lesões , Traumatismos da Coluna Vertebral/epidemiologia , Vértebras Torácicas/lesões , Escala Resumida de Ferimentos , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Bases de Dados Factuais , Humanos , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Classificação Internacional de Doenças , Modelos Lineares , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Traumatismos da Coluna Vertebral/diagnóstico , Fatores de Tempo , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of smoking on early markers of cardiovascular disease (arterial stiffness) in adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the SEARCH Cardiovascular Disease Study. STUDY DESIGN: Participants included 606 youth (18.9 ± 3.3 years, 83% non-Hispanic white; 50% male). Six groups were defined: (1) smokers with T1D (n = 80); (2) former smokers with T1D (n = 88); (3) nonsmokers with T1D (n = 232); (4) smokers without T1D (n = 40); (5) former smokers without T1D former (n = 51); and (6) nonsmokers without T1D (n = 115). Arterial stiffness measurements included pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index, and brachial distensibility. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the independent and joint effects of T1D and smoking on arterial stiffness. RESULTS: Nearly 20% of both youth with and without T1D and T1D were smokers. In youth without T1D, smokers had higher trunk and arm PWV. After adjustment for potential confounders, T1D, but not smoking, was an independent predictor of PWV (P < .05). Moreover, smoking status did not modify the association between T1D and increased arterial stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of smoking among youth with and without T1D; however, smoking status was not independently associated with increased arterial stiffness in youth with T1D.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/fisiopatologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/fisiopatologia , Fumar/fisiopatologia , Rigidez Vascular/fisiologia , Adolescente , Biomarcadores , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalência , Análise de Onda de Pulso , Análise de Regressão , Fatores de Risco , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: In their Strategic Impact Goal Statement, the American Heart Association focused on primordial prevention of cardiovascular risk factors by defining metrics for ideal cardiovascular health (ICH). The prevalence of ICH among youth with type 1 diabetes is unknown. Youth with type 1 diabetes face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as they age. The purpose of this report was to examine the prevalence of ICH in a population of youth with type 1 diabetes and to examine the association of ICH with measures of cardiovascular structure and function. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This report is based on SEARCH CVD an ancillary study to the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth. A total of 190 adolescents with type 1 diabetes had complete data on all of the ICH metrics at baseline and had measures of arterial stiffness [pulse wave velocity (PWV), brachial distensibility (BrachD), and augmentation index (AIx)] and carotid intima-media thickness completed at a follow-up visit [on average 5 yr after baseline (interquartile range 4-5)]. RESULTS: No subjects met the ICH criteria for all 7 metrics. Meeting an increasing number of ICH metrics was significantly associated with lower arterial stiffness [lower PWV of the trunk (ß = -0.02 ±0.01; p = 0.004) and AIx (ß = -2.2 ±0.66; p = 0.001), and increased BrachD (ß = 0.14 ±0.07; p = 0.04)]. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing number of ICH metrics was significantly associated with decreased arterial stiffness, but prevalence of ICH in this population was low. Youth with type 1 diabetes could benefit from improvements in their cardiovascular health.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente , Doenças Cardiovasculares/prevenção & controle , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/terapia , Angiopatias Diabéticas/prevenção & controle , Cardiomiopatias Diabéticas/prevenção & controle , Promoção da Saúde , Cooperação do Paciente , Adolescente , American Heart Association , Doenças Cardiovasculares/complicações , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Colorado/epidemiologia , Terapia Combinada , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicações , Angiopatias Diabéticas/epidemiologia , Cardiomiopatias Diabéticas/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Hiperglicemia/epidemiologia , Hiperglicemia/prevenção & controle , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Atividade Motora , Política Nutricional , Ohio/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pesticide exposure poses a health risk for farmworkers. This analysis documents lifetime and current pesticide exposure of North Carolina Latino migrant farmworkers, with comparison to non-farmworker Latino immigrants. METHODS: During May to October 2012, 235 Latino farmworkers and 212 Latino non-farmworkers completed interviews with items to construct measures of lifetime, current residential and occupational pesticide exposure. RESULTS: Farmworkers experience levels of lifetime and residential pesticide exposure that are consistently greater than among non-farmworkers. Farmworkers report a large number of occupational pesticide exposures. Lifetime exposure and current residential pesticide exposure are related to social determinants. Education is inversely related to lifetime pesticide exposure for farmworkers and non-farmworkers; farmworkers with H-2A visas report greater residential pesticide exposure than those without H-2A visas. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational safety policy needs to consider these patterns of lifetime exposure when setting standards. Health care providers should be aware of the lifetime and current exposure of this vulnerable population.
Assuntos
Agricultura , Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Hispânico ou Latino , Exposição Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Praguicidas , Migrantes , Adulto , Idoso , Pesquisa Participativa Baseada na Comunidade , Seguimentos , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , North CarolinaRESUMO
IMPORTANCE: Despite concern about an "epidemic," there are limited data on trends in prevalence of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes across US race and ethnic groups. OBJECTIVE: To estimate changes in the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in US youth, by sex, age, and race/ethnicity between 2001 and 2009. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Case patients were ascertained in 4 geographic areas and 1 managed health care plan. The study population was determined by the 2001 and 2009 bridged-race intercensal population estimates for geographic sites and membership counts for the health plan. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Prevalence (per 1000) of physician-diagnosed type 1 diabetes in youth aged 0 through 19 years and type 2 diabetes in youth aged 10 through 19 years. RESULTS: In 2001, 4958 of 3.3 million youth were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for a prevalence of 1.48 per 1000 (95% CI, 1.44-1.52). In 2009, 6666 of 3.4 million youth were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for a prevalence of 1.93 per 1000 (95% CI, 1.88-1.97). In 2009, the highest prevalence of type 1 diabetes was 2.55 per 1000 among white youth (95% CI, 2.48-2.62) and the lowest was 0.35 per 1000 in American Indian youth (95% CI, 0.26-0.47) and type 1 diabetes increased between 2001 and 2009 in all sex, age, and race/ethnic subgroups except for those with the lowest prevalence (age 0-4 years and American Indians). Adjusted for completeness of ascertainment, there was a 21.1% (95% CI, 15.6%-27.0%) increase in type 1 diabetes over 8 years. In 2001, 588 of 1.7 million youth were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for a prevalence of 0.34 per 1000 (95% CI, 0.31-0.37). In 2009, 819 of 1.8 million were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for a prevalence of 0.46 per 1000 (95% CI, 0.43-0.49). In 2009, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 1.20 per 1000 among American Indian youth (95% CI, 0.96-1.51); 1.06 per 1000 among black youth (95% CI, 0.93-1.22); 0.79 per 1000 among Hispanic youth (95% CI, 0.70-0.88); and 0.17 per 1000 among white youth (95% CI, 0.15-0.20). Significant increases occurred between 2001 and 2009 in both sexes, all age-groups, and in white, Hispanic, and black youth, with no significant changes for Asian Pacific Islanders and American Indians. Adjusted for completeness of ascertainment, there was a 30.5% (95% CI, 17.3%-45.1%) overall increase in type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Between 2001 and 2009 in 5 areas of the United States, the prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents increased. Further studies are required to determine the causes of these increases.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/epidemiologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Negro ou Afro-Americano/estatística & dados numéricos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/etnologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/etnologia , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Indígenas Norte-Americanos/estatística & dados numéricos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Prevalência , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , População Branca/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Limited research has examined the health implications for youth working in United States tobacco production. Agricultural labor is hazardous, yet youth are legally permitted to be hired as farmworkers. Many youth farmworkers are members of the vulnerable Latino farmworker community. In North Carolina, youth work in many agricultural crops including tobacco. METHODS: A sample of 152 Latino youth farmworkers ages 12-20 years (M = 16.7, SD = 2.0) across 19 North Carolina counties completed a cross-sectional survey and provided saliva samples in 2019. Surveys detailed personal and work characteristics. Saliva samples were analyzed for salivary cotinine and reported in geometric means (ng/ml). Bivariate associations were used to delineate the relationship between personal and work characteristics with salivary cotinine levels. RESULTS: Cotinine levels ranged from 0.05 to 313.5 ng/ml. Older age and working in tobacco were significantly associated with higher salivary cotinine levels. For every one year increase in age, there was a 31% increase in mean salivary cotinine levels (b = 1.31; 95% CI = [1.15-1.50]; p < .0001). Youth tobacco workers' (n = 15) salivary cotinine levels were 890% higher than those not working in tobacco (n = 137) (13.26, 95% CI = [5.95-29.56] ng/ml compared to 1.34, 95% CI = [1.03-1.75] ng/ml (p < .0001)). CONCLUSIONS: Latino youth tobacco workers are exposed to nicotine through their work. This exposure presents serious risk of Green Tobacco Sickness (acute nicotine poisoning) and other health concerns given the growing evidence for risk of epigenetic changes negatively affecting long-term cognitive function. Policy is urgently needed to protect this vulnerable population of adolescent workers.
Assuntos
Cotinina , Fazendeiros , Hispânico ou Latino , Saliva , Humanos , North Carolina , Cotinina/análise , Adolescente , Masculino , Saliva/química , Feminino , Adulto Jovem , Estudos Transversais , Criança , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Nicotiana/químicaRESUMO
Pesticide safety training is mandated for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. However, none is required for family members, who implement home sanitation to protect against pesticide exposure and need to control pests in substandard housing. Controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy of pesticide education programs for farmworker families, but no carefully evaluated demonstration projects have shown effectiveness in public health settings. This project evaluates a lay health promoter program to improve pesticide-related knowledge and practices. Promotoras from six agencies recruited families with children to deliver a six-lesson, in-home, culturally and educationally appropriate curriculum. Independently conducted pre- and posttests evaluated changes in knowledge and practices. Adults in 610 families completed the study. Most were from Mexico, with low levels of formal education. Significant improvements in knowledge were observed for all six lessons. Significant improvements were observed in practices related to para-occupational exposure and residential pest control. Lay health promoters with limited training and supervision can have significant impacts on families' knowledge and practices. They represent a workforce increasingly recognized as a force for reducing health disparities by providing culturally appropriate health education and other services. This study adds to the literature by demonstrating their effectiveness in a public health setting with rigorous evaluation.
Assuntos
Agricultura , Agentes Comunitários de Saúde , Exposição Ambiental/prevenção & controle , Educação em Saúde/organização & administração , Hispânico ou Latino , Exposição Ocupacional/prevenção & controle , Praguicidas/intoxicação , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Pesquisa Participativa Baseada na Comunidade , Exposição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , North Carolina , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , Inquéritos e Questionários , MigrantesRESUMO
This study uses repeated measures to document the pesticide exposure of rural and urban Latinx children (age eight at baseline), and to compare these children in terms of the frequency and concentration of their exposure to a large set of pesticides, accounting for season. We used silicone wristbands worn for one week up to ten times at quarterly intervals from 2018 to 2022 to assess pesticide exposure in children from rural farmworker (n = 75) and urban non-farmworker (n = 61) families. We determined the detection and concentrations (ng/g) of 72 pesticides and pesticide degradation products in the wristbands using gas chromatography electron capture detection and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The most frequently detected pesticide classes were organochlorines, pyrethroids, and organophosphates. Controlling for season, organochlorine or phenylpyrazole detections were less likely for rural children than for urban children. Detections of organochlorines, pyrethroids, or organophosphates were lower in spring and summer versus winter. Controlling for season, urban children had greater concentrations of organochlorines, while rural children had greater concentrations of pyrethroids and Chlorpyrifos. Pesticide concentrations were lower in winter and spring compared with summer and fall. These results further document that pesticides are ubiquitous in the living environment for children in vulnerable, immigrant communities.
Assuntos
Clorpirifos , Praguicidas , Piretrinas , Humanos , Criança , Praguicidas/análise , Exposição Ambiental/análise , Estações do Ano , Agricultura , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Piretrinas/análise , Clorpirifos/análise , Hispânico ou LatinoRESUMO
The occupational health of immigrant workers in the United States is a major concern. This analysis describes two domains, organization of work and work safety culture, important to the occupational health of Latinx women in farmworker families. Sixty-seven Latinx women in North Carolina farmworker families completed a baseline and five follow-up questionnaires in 2019 through 2021. Fifty-nine of the women were employed in the year prior to the Follow-Up 5 Questionnaire. These women experienced an abysmal organization of work and work safety culture. They experienced significant job churn, with most changing employment several times during the 18-month period. Most of their jobs were seasonal, paid less than $10.00 per hour, piece-rate, and almost all without benefits. The women's jobs had little skill variety (mean 1.5) or decision latitude (mean 1.1), but had high psychological demands (mean 2.0). Work safety climate was very low (mean 13.7), with 76.3% of women noting that their supervisors were "only interested in doing the job fast and cheaply" rather than safely. Women employed as farmworkers versus those in other jobs had few differences. Further research and intervention are needed on the organization of work and work safety culture of Latinx women manual workers.
Assuntos
Traumatismos Ocupacionais , Migrantes , Agricultura , Fazendeiros , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino , Humanos , North Carolina , Gestão da SegurançaRESUMO
Background: (1)The COVID-19 pandemic has put essential workers at high risk for contracting the disease. This study documents situational compliance with public health recommendations such as masking and social distancing among rural and urban Latinx families, with the goal of understanding change over time in COVID-19 risk reduction behaviors. Methods: (2)Respondents for 67 rural families and 44 urban families responded to repeated telephone surveys at three time points in the first year of the pandemic, providing data on use of masks and social distancing by themselves and family members while interacting with others at home, work, and in the community. Cumulative logistic regression models were employed to compare changes in risk behaviors between rural and urban groups over time. Results: (3)While group descriptive results indicated behaviors that posed low risk at each time point, regression models revealed greater change between time points for rural than urban residents. Rural residents also had gendered patterns. Conclusions: (4)Patterns of change appear to reflect structural issues such as seasonal labor demand and gender roles more than pandemic fatigue or changing public health recommendations. The findings suggest that structural factors play a role in individuals complying with public health prevention measures for COVID-19.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Genomic knowledge is becoming increasingly relevant to health care. Development of linguistically and culturally appropriate educational resources for Latino adults with limited education and English skills is needed. OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of a telenovela was analyzed and lessons learned provided. METHODS: The team developed a telenovela to convey key genomics concepts and delivered it to 100 Latino farmworkers and nonfarmworkers in North Carolina. Participants completed a pretest measuring genomic knowledge and self-efficacy, viewed the telenovela, then completed a post-test. Twenty-four participants repeated the post-test 6 months later. Changes in genomic knowledge and self-efficacy were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, genomic knowledge and self-efficacy increased significantly after viewing the telenovela. Responses to two items indicated that the emphasis on epigenetics overshadowed other genomic mechanisms. Six-month follow-up results were not significantly different from the pretest. CONCLUSIONS: Increased attention to graphic design principles, presentation across multiple sessions, and supplemental activities may increase telenovelas' impact.
Assuntos
Pesquisa Participativa Baseada na Comunidade , Fazendeiros , Humanos , Hispânico ou Latino , Genômica , North CarolinaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Mental health among low-income Latinx women in the United States (US), including those in farmworker families, is a health equity concern. This analysis (1) describes the depressive symptoms among Latinx women in rural farmworker families and urban non-farmworker families and (2) delineates immigration and acculturation, family composition and disruption, and financial characteristics associated with depressive symptoms experienced by these women. METHODS: Data are from a 2019-2020 cross-sectional survey of 66 rural farmworker and 52 urban non-farmworker women with a child participating in a study of pesticide exposure and neurocognitive development. Depressive symptoms were measured with the CES-D Short Form. RESULTS: The median (25th-75th percentiles) depressive symptom score reported was 2.0 (1.0-4.0), with 10 (8.5%) women having depressive symptom scores of 10 or greater. In bivariate analysis, among immigration and acculturation characteristics, women born in the USA and who spoke English fluently had lower depressive symptom scores. Among family composition and disruption characteristics, married women, and those with two adults in the household had lower depressive symptom scores. No financial status characteristic had statistically significant associations with depressive symptom score. In multivariate analysis, rural farmworker women had an expected median score one point lower than did urban non-farmworker women. CONCLUSION: Addressing mental health among immigrant women, particularly those in farmworker families, is a complex undertaking. Rural versus urban locality provides a context for mental health. Determining the proximal determinants of locality requires further analysis.