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Perspectives on Safety and Health Among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the United States and México: A Qualitative Field Study
Author(s) -
Stallones Lorann,
Acosta Martha S. Vela,
Sample Pat,
Bigelow Philip,
Rosales Monica
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00221.x
Subject(s) - occupational safety and health , context (archaeology) , qualitative research , environmental health , work (physics) , suicide prevention , poison control , psychology , medicine , geography , sociology , engineering , mechanical engineering , social science , archaeology , pathology
Context: A large number of hired farmworkers in the United States come from México. 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 México. Methods: A total of 10 migrant farmworkers from northern Colorado and 5 seasonal farmworkers from Guanajuato, México, 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.