Vela Acosta M S, Reding D J, Cooper S P, Gunderson P
Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Texas-Houston, School of Public Health at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA.
J Agric Saf Health. 2005 Feb;11(1):85-97. doi: 10.13031/2013.17899.
Agencies serving the estimated 42,000 to 137,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the Lake States (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota) face distinct challenges, including inadequate access to farmworker data to address their needs. This project developed and evaluated a geographical information system (GIS) database for compiling and displaying existing farmworker data in the Lake States. A three-step study was conducted in the Lake States: (1) a preliminary resource and needs assessment was conducted among agencies serving farmworkers, (2) a GIS product was created using data available from state agencies, and (3) the GIS product was evaluated by an advisory board of qualified occupational health and safety representatives for appropriateness, applications, and ease of use. Agencies participated by sharing their available farmworker data. The GIS product consisted of a CD-ROM with data displayed in a graphic format and downloadable spreadsheet files consolidated by county demographic, crop, housing, and migrant health clinic information. Evaluators of the GIS product found it to be an accessible, unique clearinghouse for farmworker-related data. The GIS product can become a valuable tool for agencies serving farmworkers and those researching farmworker-related issues. Agencies and health professionals require useful and comprehensive databases to track and serve farmworkers, and a multi-agency partnership using GIS technology could provide this capability. Further research is required with improved definitions and resources to apply the GIS product.
为五大湖州（威斯康星州、密歇根州和明尼苏达州）估计4.2万至13.7万流动及季节性农场工人提供服务的机构面临着独特的挑战，包括获取农场工人数据以满足其需求的渠道不足。本项目开发并评估了一个地理信息系统（GIS）数据库，用于汇编和展示五大湖州现有的农场工人数据。在五大湖州开展了一项分三步的研究：（1）对为农场工人提供服务的机构进行了初步资源和需求评估；（2）利用州机构提供的数据创建了一个GIS产品；（3）由合格的职业健康与安全代表组成的咨询委员会对该GIS产品在适用性、应用和易用性方面进行了评估。各机构通过分享其现有的农场工人数据参与其中。该GIS产品包括一张光盘，其中的数据以图形格式显示，还有可下载的电子表格文件，这些文件按县人口统计、作物、住房和流动工人健康诊所信息进行了整合。该GIS产品的评估人员发现它是一个便于获取的、独特的与农场工人相关数据的信息中心。该GIS产品可成为为农场工人提供服务的机构以及研究与农场工人相关问题的机构的宝贵工具。各机构和卫生专业人员需要有用且全面的数据库来跟踪和服务农场工人，利用GIS技术的多机构合作关系能够提供这种能力。需要通过改进定义和资源来进一步研究如何应用该GIS产品。
