American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume 54, Issue 7, 2011, Pages 533-544

Migrant farmworkers' housing conditions across an agricultural season in North Carolina (Article)

Vallejos Q.M. , Quandt S.A. , Grzywacz J.G. , Isom S. , Chen H. , Galván L. , Whalley L. , Chatterjee A.B. , Arcury T.A.*
  • a Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • b Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • f North Carolina Farmworkers Project, Benson, NC, United States
  • g Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • h Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunologic Diseases Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • i Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

Background: Several studies have documented poor housing conditions for farmworkers but none has focused on migrant farmworker housing, which is often provided as a condition of employment. Farmworker housing quality is regulated, but little documentation exists of compliance with regulations. Methods: A 2007 survey of 43 randomly selected farmworker camps and a 2008 survey of 27 camps randomly selected from the 2007 sample documented housing conditions via interviewer administered questionnaire and housing checklist. Results: Substandard conditions are common in migrant housing. All camps had at least one exterior housing problem; 93% had at least one interior problem. Housing conditions worsen across the agricultural season. Characteristics including no residents with H2A visa and 11 or more residents are associated with poorer conditions. Conclusions: Housing standards are not adequately enforced. An increase in post-occupancy inspections and targeting camps with characteristics that place them at increased risk for substandard conditions are recommended. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author Keywords

Substandard housing Housing standards Migrant farmworker enforcement Housing conditions

Index Keywords

risk human Odds Ratio statistics North Carolina Agriculture Confidence Intervals Health Surveys family size Family Characteristics Confidence interval Young Adult United States Humans Adolescent male female Multivariate Analysis questionnaire Article Questionnaires adult migration Homeless Persons Models, Statistical participatory research Community-Based Participatory Research statistical model Transients and Migrants homelessness health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79957818272&doi=10.1002%2fajim.20945&partnerID=40&md5=8c1e9cd72649086863c112969786e879
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20945
ISSN: 02713586
Cited by: 46
Original Language: English