Journal of Rural Health
Volume 25, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 98-103

Health care utilization among migrant latino farmworkers: The case of skin disease (Article)

Feldman S.R. , Vallejos Q.M. , Quandt S.A. , Fleischer Jr. A.B. , Schulz M.R. , Verma A. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
  • c Division of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
  • d Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
  • e Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
  • f Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
  • g Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

Abstract

Context: Skin diseases are common occupational illnesses for migrant farmworkers. Farmworkers face many barriers in accessing health care resources. Purpose: Framed by the Health Behavior Model, the purpose of this study was to assess health care utilization for skin disease by migrant Latino farmworkers. Methods: Three hundred and four migrant and seasonal Latino farmworkers in North Carolina were enrolled in a longitudinal study of skin disease and health care utilization over a single agricultural season. Self-reported and dermatologist-diagnosed skin condition data were collected at baseline and at up to 4 follow-up assessments. Medical visit rates were compared to national norms. Findings: Self-reported skin problems and diagnosed skin disease were common among farmworkers. However, only 34 health care visits were reported across the entire agricultural season, and none of the visits were for skin diseases. Nevertheless, self-treatment for skin conditions was common, including use of non-prescription preparations (63%), prescription products (9%), and home remedies (6%). General medical office visits were reported in 3.2% of the assessments, corresponding to 1.6 office visits per person year. Conclusions: The migrant farmworker population consists largely of young men who make little use of clinic services. Skin conditions are very common among these workers, but use of medical services for these conditions is not common. Instead, farmworkers rely primarily on self-treatment. Clinic-based studies of farmworker skin conditions will not account for most injury or disease in this population and have the potential for biased estimates. © 2009 National Rural Health Association.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

educational status occupational disease skin disease human middle aged statistics North Carolina Skin Diseases ethnology Hispanic Americans prescription drug Prescription Drugs United States Young Adult Humans classification Hispanic traditional medicine Adolescent dermatology male Medicine, Traditional Agricultural Workers' Diseases prevalence Article non prescription drug adult migration ambulatory care patient attitude Utilization Review Office Visits Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants Nonprescription Drugs rural health care Rural Health Services
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-58049148336&doi=10.1111%2fj.1748-0361.2009.00205.x&partnerID=40&md5=6836dd75cae32d6ad7d3cc568623628c
DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00205.x
ISSN: 0890765X
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English