No abstract

Objective: Providing health program information to vulnerable communities, such as Latino farmworkers, is difficult. This analysis describes the manner in which farmworkers receive information about the Affordable Care Act, comparing farmworkers to other Latinos. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 100 Latino farmworkers and 100 urban Latino North Carolina residents in 2015. Results: Most farmworkers had received health information from a community organization. Trusted sources for health information were health care providers and community organizations. Sources that would influence decisions to enroll were Latino nurses and doctors, religious leaders, and family members. Traditional media, including oral presentation and printed material at the doctor’s office were preferred by the majority of farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Farmworkers used traditional electronic media: radio, television, telephone. More non-farmworkers used current electronic media: e-mail and internet. Conclusions: Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers prefer traditional media in the context of a health care setting. They are willing to try contemporary electronic media for this information.

Background: Using scientific results to inform policy that improves health and well-being of vulnerable community members is essential to community-based participatory research (CBPR) Objectives: We describe “policy briefs,” a mechanism developed to apply the results of CBPR projects with migrant and seasonal farmworkers to policy changes. Lessons Learned: Policy briefs are two-page summaries of published research that address a single policy issue using language and graphics to make the science accessible to diverse audiences. Policy brief topics are selected by community advocates, based on collaborative research, and address a specific policy or regulation. Development is an iterative process of discussion with community representatives. Briefs have been used to provide information to advocates, state and national policy makers, and the public. Conclusions: Disseminating CBPR results to address policy is needed. Collaborating with community partners to produce policy briefs ensures that information about concerns and struggles reflects their priorities.

The food-related practices of farmworkers would require change to accommodate effective dietary self-management of diabetes. Greater use of sources of fresh produce and other nutrient-dense foods, coupled with greater control over meal content and cooking techniques would be needed. While some accommodations could be encouraged through education, others would require policy change in housing or access to community resources.