Mexican migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the US-Mexico border region face health hazards and occupational risks and are becoming commonly known in the public health literature. According to several studies, farmworkers have high levels of chronic diseases such as diabetes and respiratory problems, are at risk for infectious diseases, and experience among the highest incidences of work-related injuries of any profession. The findings from two studies are considered and presented with the objective of contributing to an overall understanding of migrant farmworkers as a workforce moving across national boundaries and affected by the work environments and health stressors both shared and unique to each context. We propose a binational approach to comprehensively address the health problems and socioeconomic challenges faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers. In this paper we present the results of two distinct but complementary studies of farmworker health on the Arizona-Sonora border.
One of the main strengths of today's global food system is the labor force. Within emergent countries, farmworkers are an important element of competitiveness. However, food production that frequently stands in developed countries family tables rests upon the usually precarious living and health conditions of farmworkers, especially those that should migrate from regions that are far from the agribusiness where they work and live most of the year. Furthermore, healthcare becomes a challenging task because of cultural, socioeconomic and ethnic barriers. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a Community Health Worker (CHW) training model among agricultural Mexican migrant farmworkers, focusing on strengthening a health prevention environment conducive to improve health. This was a qualitative action-driven research carried out in southern Mexico communities as well as at northwest Mexico agribusiness. The project was implemented in four stages: needs assessment, curriculum design, training and implementation and process evaluation. The socioecological model guided our methodological and analytical process; we followed a Community Based Participatory Approach (CBPA) to interview and train a network of 40 CHW. Results showed that CHW's main health priorities were dehydration and heat stroke, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, work accidents, hygiene, nutrition, as well as mental health including substance abuse and depression. Training evaluation 1) improved communication between middle management and migrant farmworkers, as well as between middle management and farm administrators, 2) increased middle management consciousness about farmworkers health needs and responsibility, and 3) increased awareness about how improving the environment could help prevent diseases.
El saber de mis hijos hará mi grandeza" 3Volumen XV, Número 2 RESUMENInseguridad alimentaria, significa ausencia de acceso físico, económico y social a alimentos suficientes para llevar una vida activa y saludable. El objetivo del presente estudio fue recabar información sobre las experiencias de inseguridad alimentaria de mujeres de bajos recursos económicos del noroeste de México. Se seleccionaron 204 representantes del hogar de diferentes localidades del noroeste de México. Se realizaron 29 grupos de enfoque. En promedio, la edad de las participantes fue de 39 años, el 71% se dedicaban a las labores del hogar, 58% completó la primaria y el 5% reportó tener algún grado de licenciatura. El 74% de los hogares presentaron un ingreso familiar mensual de $3,895, que los ubica en pobreza. Existe inseguridad alimentaria entre las familias estudiadas, aunada a situaciones emocionales y físicas como: dolor de cabeza, dolor de estómago, desesperación y depresión. Las causas de la inseguridad alimentaria se debieron a ingreso insuficiente, gastos en educación, servicios básicos, salud y a situaciones climáticas. La inseguridad alimentaria no es distinta a la reportada en el ámbito mundial. El estudio, brinda información clave para tener una mejor comprensión de la inseguridad alimentaria para aquéllos que se encuentran desarrollando políticas públicas encaminadas a reducirla en ámbitos locales. Palabras clave: Inseguridad alimentaria, grupos de enfoque, escasez de alimentos, desesperación
Objectives To examine the relationship between prevalence of overweight and obesity in adult women, household food insecurity (FI) and local food environment measures in Hermosillo, Mexico. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study design with a multi-stage sampling process for neighborhoods, households and individuals (in areas with medium and high levels of social marginalization). Measures of body weight, height and waist circumference from adult women were collected from September to November 2018. Through validated questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, we assessed food security (scale of food security for families in northwestern Mexico), perception of the local food environment (NEMS-P), socioeconomic status and self-reported physical activity. Results Prevalence of overweight and obesity among women was 80.5%, 82% were moderately active, and 69% did mainly housework. Seventy nine % of households showed some level of FI. Participants reported mainly supermarkets and corner stores for food purchasing (75.7% and 15.4%, respectively). There was a higher probability of obesity in women who visited neighborhood corner stores daily compared to those who purchased in other food establishments (OR: 3.66; 95% CI, 1.2–10.4). Among households with FI, the consumption of food while watching television, occupation, cohabitation status (being married or living with a partner) and the frequency and places of food purchasing, were associated with women´s overweight or obesity (P < 0.05). There was an association between women's waist circumference and severe household FI (P < 0.05). Conclusions The food environment and household FI were related to the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult women. Funding Sources This research was funded by the Interdisciplinary Research Network on Obesity Prevention at Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo.
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