Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 5, 2014, Pages 904-913

Musculoskeletal injury, functional disability, and health-related quality of life in aging Mexican immigrant farmworkers (Article)

Weigel M.M.* , Armijos R.X. , Beltran O.
  • a Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX 79968, United States, Human Immunology and Disease Research Laboratory, UTEP College of Health Sciences, El Paso, TX 79968, United States, UTEP Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research and Evaluation, UTEP College of Health Sciences, El Paso, TX 79968, United States
  • b Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX 79968, United States, Human Immunology and Disease Research Laboratory, UTEP College of Health Sciences, El Paso, TX 79968, United States, UTEP Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research and Evaluation, UTEP College of Health Sciences, El Paso, TX 79968, United States
  • c Human Immunology and Disease Research Laboratory, UTEP College of Health Sciences, El Paso, TX 79968, United States, Interdisciplinary Health Science Doctoral Program, UTEP College of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, El Paso, TX 79968, United States

Abstract

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are at high risk for musculoskeletal and other occupational injuries. Although persons aged 40–80 years account for 40 % of all US farmworkers and as many as 50 % in certain regions, little is known about their occupational health issues. The current study examined work-related persistent musculoskeletal injuries (PMIs) and their association with clinical and functional indicators of disability and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in 177 middle-aged and elderly US–Mexico border farmworkers. At interview, 68 % reported current PMI pain; 51 % had pain at multiple sites. PMI pain was associated with increased shoulder, knee, and lower extremity dysfunction and reduced HRQOL scores. However, fewer than 25 % of injured participants received any conventional medical treatment. The study results indicated that work-related PMIs, especially multiple PMIs, caused significant functional impairment, disability, and poorer HRQOL, adversely affecting the ability of the aging farmworkers to perform work, self-care, and other daily activities. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Health-related quality of life aging Functional disability occupational health Hispanic immigrants musculoskeletal injuries Migrant and seasonal farmworkers

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84874059582&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9788-6&partnerID=40&md5=f42b2ab4760c65a48144703a2df316b9
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9788-6
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English