Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 8, Issue 2, 2006, Pages 173-184

Housing characteristics of farmworker families in North Carolina (Article)

Early J. , Davis S.W. , Quandt S.A. , Rao P. , Snively B.M. , Arcury T.A.*
  • a Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States
  • c Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States
  • d Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States
  • e Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States
  • f Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, United States

Abstract

Adequate housing is a basic human right and an important determinant of environmental health. Little research has documented the housing quality of immigrant Latino farmworker families. This analysis uses data from four surveys of North Carolina farmworker communities conducted in 2001 and 2003 to document aspects of housing quality that could affect farmworker family health. Three housing domains are considered: dwelling characteristics, household characteristics, and household behaviors. Most farmworker families live in mobile homes, and few own their dwellings. Many are located near agricultural fields. Most houses are small, but household size is large, containing adults, in addition to the nuclear family. Crowding is common among farmworker families. Many farmworker households lack basic facilities, such as washing machines. Farmworkers attempt to reduce exposure by frequently cleaning their dwellings. These findings suggest that the health of farmworker families is at risk due to inadequate housing. Further research on housing-related health effects among farmworker families is needed. © Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2006.

Author Keywords

Housing occupational health Environmental health Latinos Migrant and seasonal farmworkers

Index Keywords

immigrant household agricultural worker human Health Behavior North Carolina medical research controlled study Agriculture priority journal housing family health human rights United States Humans male female environmental exposure Article adult data analysis cleaning Nuclear Family Interviews occupational health machine environmental health Crowding health hazard documentation health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33646043235&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-006-8525-1&partnerID=40&md5=3780ae0a14a019d7f5836444e067ead8
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-006-8525-1
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 59
Original Language: English