Advancing the Health of Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the United States: Identifying Gaps in the Existing Literature, 2021

Abstract

There are profound health inequities for agricultural workers. We sought to assess the literature on migrant and seasonal farmworker health with an eye toward health promotion interventions, special populations, use of community health workers (CHWs), and technology. We conducted a systematic mapping review by searching five databases in March 2021. Using quantitative content analysis after establishing interrater reliability, we coded titles and abstracts to assess 13 topics and six characteristics of the research such as its focus on health promotion, use of technology, and inclusion of CHWs. We identified 1,083 records. Just 8.2% of records described or evaluated a health promotion effort to intervene in farmworker well-being and even fewer (4.2%) examined unique populations of farmworkers such as indigenous farmworkers ( n = 11) or sexual minority farmworkers ( n = 1). A small body of literature focused on the role of CHWs or promotores most frequently described their role in implementing health interventions. The literature on farmworker health has gaps regarding health promotion interventions, special populations, and integration of CHWs into research projects. We offer suggestions to fill in identified gaps in the literature.

Creating information resources and trainings for farmworker-serving community health workers

“…The literature on migrant and seasonal farmworker health has limited information on the resources available to CHWs in their work to provide critical health education and information to farmworkers [ 2 , 8 ]. This dearth may be due, in part, to the lack of a formalized position for CHWs, which would acknowledge the complex responsibilities CHWs assume in providing both social and health-enabling services to farmworkers.…”

“…Farmworker-serving CHWs in North Carolina (NC) tend to be female, Spanish-speakers, and Latinx [ 7 ]. Whereas CHWs serve an important role in providing health care access and enabling services (e.g., health education, interpretation, and case management) for farmworkers, CHWs have received limited attention in the literature [ 8 ]. Furthermore, our previous research involving farmworker-serving CHWs has demonstrated they have limited access to farmworker health research findings and other important health information resources [ 9 ].…”

Cyclospora cayetanensis Infection in Developed Countries: Potential Endemic Foci?

“…Demographic data in the USA show that migrant farmworkers leave their homes every year to work in the fields in the USA, return to their countries and come back again the next year and are likely to amplify exposure to C. cayetanensis oocysts through contact with contaminated environmental vehicles. Most migrant farm workers live in substandard conditions, and nearly two-thirds of them live in poverty [ 56 , 57 ]. Racial residential segregation is a fundamental cause of differences in health status because it shapes socioeconomic conditions for non-white populations at the individual, household, neighborhood, and community levels, can create social and physical risks in residential environments that adversely affect health [ 53 , 54 ], and could support infectious diseases such as cyclosporiasis.…”

Perceptions from the public on farmworker contributions to the U.S. economy and attitudes toward farmworkers.

“…Their low wages put them at risk for chronic poverty and food and housing insecurity. They often experience multiple marginalized identities, such as being Latinx and lacking documentation to live in the United States legally, which can cause prolonged stress (Bloss et al, 2022). Individuals who lack legal documentation status experience social and economic barriers, such as low wages and fear of deportation, which place them at risk for health issues (Cabral & Cuevas, 2020).…”