Perspectives on Safety and Health Among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the United States and Mexico: A Qualitative Field Study

Context: A large number of hired farmworkers in the United States come from Mexico, 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 Mexico. Methods: A total of 10 migrant farmworkers from northern Colorado and 5 seasonal farmworkers from Guanajuato, Mexico, 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 farm workers. The results add to the current work to understand specific health and safety concerns among these workers.