Health Care Utilization among Migrant Latino Farmworkers: The Case of Skin Disease
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| Title: | Health Care Utilization among Migrant Latino Farmworkers: The Case of Skin Disease |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Feldman, Steven R., Vallejos, Quirina M., Quandt, Sara A., Fleischer, Alan B., Schulz, Mark R., Verma, Amit, Arcury, Thomas A. |
| Source: | Journal of Rural Health. Win 2009 25(1):98-103. |
| Availability: | Blackwell Publishing. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8599; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: customerservices@blackwellpublishing.com; Web site: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/jnl_default.asp |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 6 |
| Publication Date: | 2009 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Medical Services, Diseases, Health Behavior, Migrant Workers, Use Studies, Human Body, Access to Health Care, Agricultural Occupations, Longitudinal Studies, Hispanic Americans, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Medical Evaluation |
| Geographic Terms: | North Carolina |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00205.x |
| ISSN: | 0890-765X |
| Abstract: | Context: Skin diseases are common occupational illnesses for migrant farmworkers. Farmworkers face many barriers in accessing health care resources. Purpose: Framed by the Health Behavior Model, the purpose of this study was to assess health care utilization for skin disease by migrant Latino farmworkers. Methods: Three hundred and four migrant and seasonal Latino farmworkers in North Carolina were enrolled in a longitudinal study of skin disease and health care utilization over a single agricultural season. Self-reported and dermatologist-diagnosed skin condition data were collected at baseline and at up to 4 follow-up assessments. Medical visit rates were compared to national norms. Findings: Self-reported skin problems and diagnosed skin disease were common among farmworkers. However, only 34 health care visits were reported across the entire agricultural season, and none of the visits were for skin diseases. Nevertheless, self-treatment for skin conditions was common, including use of non-prescription preparations (63%), prescription products (9%), and home remedies (6%). General medical office visits were reported in 3.2% of the assessments, corresponding to 1.6 office visits per person year. Conclusions: The migrant farmworker population consists largely of young men who make little use of clinic services. Skin conditions are very common among these workers, but use of medical services for these conditions is not common. Instead, farmworkers rely primarily on self-treatment. Clinic-based studies of farmworker skin conditions will not account for most injury or disease in this population and have the potential for biased estimates. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 33 |
| Entry Date: | 2009 |
| Accession Number: | EJ822750 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Context: Skin diseases are common occupational illnesses for migrant farmworkers. Farmworkers face many barriers in accessing health care resources. Purpose: Framed by the Health Behavior Model, the purpose of this study was to assess health care utilization for skin disease by migrant Latino farmworkers. Methods: Three hundred and four migrant and seasonal Latino farmworkers in North Carolina were enrolled in a longitudinal study of skin disease and health care utilization over a single agricultural season. Self-reported and dermatologist-diagnosed skin condition data were collected at baseline and at up to 4 follow-up assessments. Medical visit rates were compared to national norms. Findings: Self-reported skin problems and diagnosed skin disease were common among farmworkers. However, only 34 health care visits were reported across the entire agricultural season, and none of the visits were for skin diseases. Nevertheless, self-treatment for skin conditions was common, including use of non-prescription preparations (63%), prescription products (9%), and home remedies (6%). General medical office visits were reported in 3.2% of the assessments, corresponding to 1.6 office visits per person year. Conclusions: The migrant farmworker population consists largely of young men who make little use of clinic services. Skin conditions are very common among these workers, but use of medical services for these conditions is not common. Instead, farmworkers rely primarily on self-treatment. Clinic-based studies of farmworker skin conditions will not account for most injury or disease in this population and have the potential for biased estimates. |
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| ISSN: | 0890-765X |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00205.x |
