The Health Status of Hispanic Agricultural Workers in Georgia and Florida

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Immigr Minor Health
• Personal Author:
  Chicas, Roxana C. ; Elon, Lisa ; Houser, Madelyn C. ; Mutic, Abby ; Gallegos, Estefani Ignacio ; Smith, Daniel J. ; Modly, Lori ; Xiuhtecutli, Nezahualcoyotl ; Hertzberg, Vicki S. ; Flocks, Joan ; Sands, Jeff M. ; McCauley, Linda
• Description:
  To examine the health status of Hispanic agricultural workers in Florida and Georgia. Health data from agricultural workers in the Farm Worker Family Health Program (June 2019) and research studies in Florida (May 2015 and May 2019) were examined. Data from 728 agricultural workers were collected through sociodemographic questionnaire and clinical data. In the Florida sample, 83% were overweight or obese, 70% elevated blood pressure, 60% met the definition of prediabetes. In Georgia, 64% were overweight or obese and 67% had elevated blood pressure. Weak correlations were observed between BMI and systolic blood pressure (unadjusted r = 0.20), diastolic blood pressure (unadjusted r = 0.19), and glucose (unadjusted r = 0.14). Adjusting for age and gender did not show statistically significant correlation between BMI and systolic and diastolic blood pressure or glucose. While BMI has been shown to be strongly associated with high blood pressure and impaired glucose, we found a weak correlation among agricultural workers. Given the common and high use of pesticides and elevated rates of hypertension, impaired glucose, and adiposity in agricultural workers, the public health impact of this relationship may require and lead to occupational reform that protects the health of agricultural workers. Future studies should assess occupational and environmental factors and lifestyle differences between agricultural workers and the general population to better understand these discrepancies in health status.
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Workers Agricultural Workers' Diseases Chronic Conditions Environmental Health Farmers Florida Georgia Glucose Health Health Status Hispanic Or Latino Humans Hypertension Obesity Occupational Occupational Exposure Overweight

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• Source:
  J Immigr Minor Health. 24(5):1129-1136
• Pubmed ID:
  34988908
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10479758
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  T32 - DK 07656/DK/NIDDK NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01OH0011782/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R01 OH011782/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R01OH011782/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/ ; T32 DK007656/DK/NIDDK NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01OH010657/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R01 OH010657/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  24
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:d51f074c914d85d69e81d8d69a19ace07fe8a291d50d646a6e9c7a6103a81f96
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/132824/cdc_132824_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 344.32 KB ]