Citation

Villarejo D, McCurdy SA, Bade B, Samuels S, Lighthall D, Williams D. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2010; 53(4): 387-397.

Affiliation

California Institute for Rural Studies, Davis, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.20796

PMID

20191600

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hispanic immigrant workers dominate California's hired farm workforce. Little is known about their health status; even less is known about those lacking employment authorization. METHODS: The California Agricultural Workers Health Survey (CAWHS) was a statewide cross-sectional household survey conducted in 1999. Six hundred fifty-four workers completed in-person interviews, comprehensive physical examinations, and personal risk behavior interviews. RESULTS: The CAWHS PE Sample is comprised mostly of young Mexican men who lack health insurance and present elevated prevalence of indicators of chronic disease: overweight, obesity, high blood pressure, and high serum cholesterol. The self-reported, cumulative, farm work career incidence of paid claims for occupational injury under workers compensation was 27% for males and 11% for females. CONCLUSIONS: The survey finds elevated prevalence of indicators of chronic disease but lack of health care access. Participants without employment authorization reported a greater prevalence of high-risk behaviors, such as binge drinking, and were less knowledgeable about workplace protections. Am. J. Ind. Med. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Language: en