Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume 40, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 377-384

Alcohol Consumption and Risk for Dependence Among Male Latino Migrant Farmworkers Compared to Latino Nonfarmworkers in North Carolina (Article)

Arcury T.A.* , Talton J.W. , Summers P. , Chen H. , Laurienti P.J. , 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 Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, 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 Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • f Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

Background: Our aim was to describe alcohol consumption behavior of male Latino migrant farmworkers, compare their alcohol consumption behavior with that of other male Latino immigrants, and determine factors associated with risk for alcohol dependence among Latino immigrant workers. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from baseline interviews conducted as part of a larger community-based participatory research project examining the cognitive and neurological outcomes of pesticide exposure. A total of 235 farmworkers and 212 nonfarmworkers completed interviews between May and August 2012. Results: Although 17.5% of the North Carolina Latino farmworkers report never having drunk alcohol, and a total of 34.5% report not having drunk alcohol in the previous 3 months, 48.5% engaged in heavy episodic drinking (HED) in the previous 3 months, and 23.8% frequently engaged in HED during this period. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers did not differ significantly in alcohol consumption behavior. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers did differ significantly in each component of the CAGE scale, with 37.9% of farmworkers and 16.0% of nonfarmworkers being at risk for alcohol dependence (p < 0.0001). Significant factors for being at risk for alcohol dependence were stress (odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.03, 1.09) and being a farmworker (odds ratio 3.58, 95% confidence interval 2.12, 6.06). Being married reduced the risk of alcohol dependence (odds ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.23, 0.87). Conclusions: Latino farmworkers and nonfarmworkers consume relatively large amounts of alcohol and engage in HED at relatively high rates. Latino farmworkers have very high rates of risk for alcohol dependence. Policy changes and public health interventions are needed to address these concerns for a population that is vital to the agricultural economy. © 2016 Research Society on Alcoholism.

Author Keywords

Alcohol dependence Immigrant workers Heavy Episodic Drinking Latinos Farmworkers

Index Keywords

binge drinking Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior alcohol consumption agricultural worker human risk assessment middle aged North Carolina statistics and numerical data controlled study priority journal comparative study alcohol Aged alcoholism Farmers ethnology Hispanic Americans interview United States cross-sectional study Humans psychology Hispanic male cognition risk factor Risk Factors Article high risk behavior major clinical study adult migration outcome assessment participatory research Transients and Migrants adverse effects disease association behavior assessment public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84956933659&doi=10.1111%2facer.12969&partnerID=40&md5=bea2760779049da8dd9b10637144e3e7
DOI: 10.1111/acer.12969
ISSN: 01456008
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English