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Exploratory Study of the Occupational Health and Health-Seeking of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers on the U.S.–Mexico Border

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Abstract

The U.S. migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) workforce is aging. Aging causes functional changes that can affect work performance and increase injury/accident risk. It also has been linked with deferred health-seeking. The exploratory study was conducted to investigate occupational injuries and health-seeking in Hispanic MSFW on the U.S.–Mexico border. Data were collected using an abbreviated Spanish-version of the California Agricultural Worker Health Survey. Nearly 60% of the 141 participants were middle-aged or older. Musculoskeletal injuries and those consistent with agrochemical and environmental exposures were common. Farmworkers aged >40 years were 2.5–5 times more likely than younger MSFW to report persistent single and multiple injuries involving the knees, shoulder, feet, and hands. Except for neck and back injuries, few received any medical treatment. Although many self-treated with traditional home remedies, few used CAM practitioners. The study findings highlight the multiple workplace health and health-seeking challenges faced by aging immigrant MSFW.

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Acknowledgments

Project funding provided by the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORSP) Special Projects, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, ‘‘Migrant Border Health Initiative’’ (AHQR 02EM000075F2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA

    M. Margaret Weigel & Rodrigo X. Armijos

  2. Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research and Evaluation, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

    M. Margaret Weigel & Rodrigo X. Armijos

  3. Human Immunology and Nutrition Research Laboratory, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

    M. Margaret Weigel & Rodrigo X. Armijos

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  1. M. Margaret Weigel
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  2. Rodrigo X. Armijos
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Correspondence to M. Margaret Weigel.

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Weigel, M.M., Armijos, R.X. Exploratory Study of the Occupational Health and Health-Seeking of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers on the U.S.–Mexico Border. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 648–656 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9503-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9503-4

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