- Link:
- http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/62203
- Collection:
-
- Subjects
- farmworker occupational health agriculture dermatitis alcohol use access to health care Health Sciences
- Creator:
- Steege, Andrea Lynn
- Contributors:
- Baron, Sherry Garabrant, David H. Harlow, SiobÁn D. Elliott, Michael R.
- Format
- 14676190 bytes
- Format
- 1373 bytes
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- text/plain
- Language
- en_US
- Description
- BACKGROUND: Living and working conditions of
farmworkers have been difficult throughout United States
agricultural history. Farmworkers experience low wages, unstable
work availability, and numerous hazards. As they are immigrant,
mobile, and often undocumented, they are usually missed in
population-based surveys. METHODS: Data from the unique National
Agricultural Workers Survey(NAWS) were analyzed to determine the
prevalence of, and the employment and lifestyle characteristics
associated with, use of U.S. health care, alcohol consumption, and
dermatitis. The NAWS is a workplace-based multi-stage sample,
representative of U.S. farmworkers. SAS survey procedures accounted
for multi-stage sampling. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2004 the NAWS
interviewed 19,987 farmworkers. Sample sizes were 16,678, 9,906,
16,945 for analysis of health care, alcohol, and dermatitis,
respectively. Fewer than half(43%) of farmworkers utilized health
care. Men were more likely to drink(59%) and binge drink(23%) than
women (14% and 4%, respectively). Dermatitis prevalence was
significantly higher in women than men (12% versus 7%,
respectively). Significant associations exist with economic
variables (wages, assets); cultural integration variables (English
speaking ability and immigration and mobility); and employment
characteristics (employer, number of workers, years of U.S. farm
work, and peach workers). Higher hourly wages were generally
associated with better outcomes—higher odds of utilizing health
care and lower odds of dermatitis in women—although in men the
highest wages predicted higher odds of binge drinking. Among
Hispanic men, speaking English “well” was associated with
utilization of health care while intermediate English ability was
associated with binge drinking. Male farmworkers employed by farm
labor contractors had lower odds of utilizing health care but also
lower odds of binge drinking. CONCLUSIONS: The NAWS provides a
unique data source addressing the health of farmworkers, a
population not captured in surveys requiring workers have permanent
addresses or stable employment. Farmworkers’ risk of not receiving
health care, binge drinking, and dermatitis are associated with
employment and lifestyle factors. Outreach efforts should focus on
the lowest income workers and those lacking English skills. The
health impact of working for labor contractors should be explored
further. Farmworkers who labor to feed Americans should not work at
the expense of their own health.
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