American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume 47, Issue 3, 2005, Pages 237-245

Measuring success in a pesticide risk reduction program among migrant farmworkers in Colorado (Article)

Vela Acosta M.S.* , Chapman P. , Bigelow P.L. , Kennedy C. , Buchan R.M.
  • a Div. of Environ. and Occup. Health, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Brownsville, TX, United States, University of Texas-Houston, Sch. of Public Health at Brownsville, RAHC Building 1.220D, 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
  • b Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
  • c Dept. Environ. Radiological Hlth. S., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States, Workplace Studies, Institute for Work and Health, 481 University Ave., Toronto, Ont. M5G 2E9, Canada
  • d Dept. of Hlth. and Exercise Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
  • e Dept. Environ. Radiological Hlth. S., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States

Abstract

Background: Farmworkers in the US largely consist of young undocumented Hispanics with a median education of 6 years and limited English skills. The High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety bilingual pesticide risk reduction program, which complied with the Worker Protection Standard for migrant farmworkers was evaluated. Methods: A pretest/posttest comparison of farmworkers (n = 152) assigned to either the experimental or control group was used. Independent variables included demographics, agricultural experience, and health locus of control. Dependent variables were pesticide knowledge, safety risk perception (SRP), and safety-behavior outcomes. Results: The bilingual pesticide program effectively increased farmworker's pesticide knowledge (P = 0.0001), SRP (P = 0.0001), and two (out of four) behavior outcomes. Workers with external health locus of control were less likely to adopt safety behaviors (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: The cognitive decision-making process whereby farmworkers' readiness to change and permanently adopt safety behaviors was supported by the pesticide program. Our results support the need for long-term sustained bilingual, intervention programs that demonstrated effectiveness using integrative methodology. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author Keywords

Safety Pesticides Risk Health Perception migrant Locus WPS Behavior Farmworkers

Index Keywords

demography agricultural worker human risk assessment middle aged Odds Ratio controlled study Internal-External Control Logistic Models occupational toxicology Risk Reduction Behavior United States migrant worker health program Humans attitude Adolescent male pesticide spraying female occupational safety pesticide Agricultural Workers' Diseases Pesticides Article adult occupational health Transients and Migrants occupational hazard public health Colorado
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-14644390236&doi=10.1002%2fajim.20136&partnerID=40&md5=163a5c5985f88a67e1a9a3ae8a86b27b
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20136
ISSN: 02713586
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English