Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 14, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 648-656

Exploratory study of the occupational health and health-seeking of migrant and seasonal farmworkers on the U.S.-mexico border (Article)

Weigel M.M.* , Armijos R.X.
  • a Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, United States, Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research and Evaluation, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States, Human Immunology and Nutrition Research Laboratory, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
  • b Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, United States, Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research and Evaluation, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States, Human Immunology and Nutrition Research Laboratory, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States

Abstract

The U.S. migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) workforce is aging. Aging causes functional changes that can affect work performance and increase injury/accident risk. It also has been linked with deferred health-seeking. The exploratory study was conducted to investigate occupational injuries and health-seeking in Hispanic MSFW on the U.S.-Mexico border. Data were collected using an abbreviated Spanish-version of the California Agricultural Worker Health Survey. Nearly 60% of the 141 participants were middle-aged or older. Musculoskeletal injuries and those consistent with agrochemical and environmental exposures were common. Farmworkers aged ≥40 years were 2.5-5 times more likely than younger MSFW to report persistent single and multiple injuries involving the knees, shoulder, feet, and hands. Except for neck and back injuries, few received any medical treatment. Although many self-treated with traditional home remedies, few used CAM practitioners. The study findings highlight the multiple workplace health and health-seeking challenges faced by aging immigrant MSFW. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.

Author Keywords

Hispanic aging Immigrant Musculoskeletal injury occupational health health-seeking Migrant and seasonal farmworkers

Index Keywords

Population Dynamics occupational disease human middle aged aging statistics Aged Health Surveys ethnology Mexico United States Young Adult Humans occupational accident Occupational Injuries Adolescent male female Agricultural Workers' Diseases Article adult migration Southwestern United States patient attitude age distribution Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865861541&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-011-9503-4&partnerID=40&md5=eec53c07b0591a1bf35844ce5696f24e
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-011-9503-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English