Perspectives on safety and health among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States and México: a qualitative field study.

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.