Journal of Rural Health
Volume 25, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 219-225

Perspectives on safety and health among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States and Mé xico: A Qualitative Field Study (Article)

Stallones L.* , Vela Acosta M.S. , Sample P. , Bigelow P. , Rosales M.
  • a Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1876, United States
  • b Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Texas-Houston, School of Public Health at Brownsville, Brownsville, TX, United States
  • c Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado Injury Control Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
  • d Workplace Studies, Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1876, United States

Abstract

Context: A large number of hired farmworkers in the United States come from M'exico. Understanding safety and health concerns among the workers is essential to improving prevention programs. Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to obtain detailed information about safety and health concerns of hired farmworkers in Colorado and in M'exico. Methods: A total of 10 migrant farmworkers from northern Colorado and 5 seasonal farmworkers from Guanajuato, M'exico, were interviewed using a semi-structured interview process. The social cognitive theory (SCT) served as a framework to gain understanding of safety and health among workers. Findings: Topics of concern identified included causes of farm, home and motor vehicle injuries, and treatment preferences for injuries and illnesses. Four main themes emerged: safety and health concerns, personal control and prevention strategies, factors affecting control and prevention strategies, and the importance of family. Conclusions: Further study of the themes using a revised semi-structured interview will be done in a larger study among hired farmworkers. The results add to the current work to understand specific health and safety concerns among these workers. © 2009 National Rural Health Association.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

human middle aged Agriculture health status ethnology Mexico Accidents, Traffic United States Young Adult Humans family occupational accident Adolescent male female pilot study Article adult migration occupational health Transients and Migrants home accident traffic accident Accidents, Occupational Pilot Projects Accidents, Home Colorado
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70350145068&doi=10.1111%2fj.1748-0361.2009.00221.x&partnerID=40&md5=34c388b1abded3320048273b4b8b7a6a
DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00221.x
ISSN: 0890765X
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English