J Med Libr Assoc. 2020 Oct 1;108(4):651-655. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2020.1045.
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers, who are essential workers in the coronavirus global public health emergency, face unique risks to their health as well as longstanding health inequities. This commentary highlights these risks and argues that Internet access represents an underappreciated but critical part of the public health response. The authors first discuss the unique risks farmworkers face. We note the importance of Internet access in the time of physical distancing, the fact that many health outreach workers are no longer visiting camps, the need for telemedicine infrastructure, and the role of Internet access in providing connections to families in communities of origin. We describe existing efforts that have been implemented in North Carolina to raise awareness among public health and health promotion practitioners and researchers. The current coronavirus pandemic demands the attention of medical libraries, public health practitioners, and policy makers to address the digital divide for farmworkers and their families.
移民和季节性农业工人是冠状病毒全球公共卫生紧急事件中的重要工人，他们面临着独特的健康风险和长期存在的健康不平等问题。本评论强调了这些风险，并认为互联网接入是公共卫生应对措施中一个未被充分重视但至关重要的部分。作者首先讨论了农业工人面临的独特风险。我们注意到在保持社交距离期间互联网接入的重要性，许多健康宣传工作者不再访问营地，远程医疗基础设施的必要性，以及互联网接入在为原籍社区的家庭提供联系方面的作用。我们描述了北卡罗来纳州为提高公共卫生和健康促进从业者和研究人员的认识而实施的现有举措。当前的冠状病毒大流行要求医学图书馆、公共卫生从业者和政策制定者关注农业工人及其家庭的数字鸿沟问题。
