A Comparison of Health, Health Behavior, and Access Between Farm and Nonfarm Populations in Rural New York State

Details

• Personal Author:
  Earle-Richardson G ; Jenkins P ; May J ; Scott E ; Scribani M ; Earle-Richardson G ; Jenkins P ; May J ; Scott E ; Scribani M
• Description:
  Background: Recent technological and demographic changes in US agriculture raise questions about whether the previously observed benefits of the agricultural lifestyle persist. Methods: In 2009, researchers conducted a household survey of 9,612 adults (aged 20+) in a rural region of Upstate New York. Data on health status, health behaviors, and health care access among farmers and rural nonfarm residents were compared. Results: After adjustment for age, gender, education, and having a regular health care provider, male farmers had elevated prevalence of asthma (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05-3.16) and untreated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.12-9.01). Farmers had significantly lower hypercholesterolemia (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50-0.99), but not lower prevalence of heart disease or stroke. Farmers had lower rates of smoking (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.40-0.89) and higher rates of hard physical labor (OR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.83- 3.72) than nonfarmers, but they had notably worse health behavior prevalence relative to various types of screening, vaccinations, and having a regular medical care provider (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39-0.71). Conclusions: The farm population is becoming more like the rural nonfarm population with regard to health outcomes and lifestyle, yet it remains notably poorer with regard to prevention. Targeted outreach is needed to increase prevention within the agricultural community. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Behavior Farmers Healthcare Disparities Occupational Health Preventive Medicine Safety Sex Characteristics Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Agriculture Gender Factors Health Disparities Health Surveys Observational Data Population Based Studies Preventive Medicine SDOH Social Determinants Of Health Utilization Of Health Services
• ISSN:
  0890-765X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  157-164
• Volume:
  31
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053067
• Citation:
  J Rural Health 2015 Spring; 31(2):157-164
• Contact Point Address:
  Erika E. Scott, MS, New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health, Bassett Medical Center, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326
• Email:
  erika.scott@bassett.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing ; Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  The Journal of Rural Health
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2e30c6c5007283291790643e4d4df599ec7d58c97e4a67147366e5a67940a043617b50f8651bc8ec717b991d1e82382d0bbfb9220155d1968968b384c4e6751d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215914/cdc_215914_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 191.76 KB ]