Journal of Agromedicine
Volume 21, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 253-258

North Carolina Latino Farmworkers’ Use of Traditional Healers: A Pilot Study (Article)

Arcury T.A.* , Sandberg J.C. , Mora D.C. , Talton J.W. , Quandt S.A.
  • a Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Farmworkers in the United States experience high rates of injury and illness but have limited access to conventional health care. Farmworkers are often from countries that have active traditional healers, so understanding the use of traditional healers among farmworkers is important. This pilot study (1) describes the use of traditional healers among farmworkers and (2) compares the use of traditional healers by farmworkers with other Latino immigrants. Interviews were conducted in 2015 with 100 Mexican farmworkers (80 men, 20 women) and 100 Mexican immigrant non-farmworkers (50 men, 50 women) in North Carolina. Most farmworkers (78%) had H-2A visas. More farmworkers (64%) than non-farmworkers (41%) had ever used traditional healers. Among farmworkers, 21% (vs. 11% of non-farmworkers) had used curanderos, 54% (vs. 32%) sobadores, 43% (vs. 21%) hueseros, 11% (vs. 13%) yerberos, and 4% (vs. 6%) espiritualistas. More farmworkers had used a traditional healer in the past year (16% vs. 8%), but fewer had used this healer in the United States (4% vs. 8%). Among all participants, males (58.5%) more than females (41.4%) (P =.0214), and returning to Mexico annually (64.1%) more than who do not (45.1%) (P =.0086) had ever used any traditional healer. This pilot study indicates the need for further research that documents the use of traditional healers by Latino farmworkers with diverse visa statuses, from countries in addition to Mexico, and in other regions in the United States. This research should also delineate the specific illnesses and injuries for which Latino farmworkers use traditional healers. © 2016 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Traditional healers Complementary medicine Latino farmworkers Health services

Index Keywords

agricultural worker human middle aged North Carolina rural health Farmers Mexico health Humans psychology traditional medicine male Medicine, Traditional female pilot study adult migration utilization Transients and Migrants Pilot Projects
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84975514813&doi=10.1080%2f1059924X.2016.1180272&partnerID=40&md5=7d66fbd1e061afb73017302b9e27d62f
DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2016.1180272
ISSN: 1059924X
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English