Clinical and Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Agricultural Workers, Guatemala1

Olson, Daniel; Calvimontes, Diva M; Lamb, Molly M.; Guzman, Gerber; Barrios, Edgar; Chacon, Andrea; Rojop, Neudy; Arias, Kareen; Gomez, Melissa; Bolaños, Guillermo Antonio; Monzón, Jose; Chard, Anna N.; Iwamoto, Chelsea; Duca, Lindsey M.; Vuong, Nga; Fineman, Melissa; Lesteberg, Kelsey; Beckham, J. David; Santiago, Mario L.; Quicke, Kendra M.; Ebel, Gregory D.; Gutiérrez, Emily Zielinski; Azziz‐Baumgartner, Eduardo; Hayden, Frederick G.; Mansour, Hani; Edwards, Kathryn M.; Newman, Lee S.; Asturias, Edwin J.

doi:10.3201/eid2813.212303

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Other study limitations include our lack of pathogen-specific testing (the number of children with ZIKV exposure were too small to include in multivariable models) and self-reporting of some exposures (literacy, syndromic illness). While food insecurity was only collected at a single timepoint, food production in the community is generally not seasonal, and the prevalence of food insecurity reported in our cohort was similar to a 2016 survey (unpublished) and an ongoing study 42 of agricultural workers within the same community. Finally, we did not look at trajectories in growth outcomes (only absolute measures), and these should be included in future studies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Cumulative Febrile, Respiratory, and Gastrointestinal Illness Among Infants in Rural Guatemala and Association With Neurodevelopmental and Growth Outcomes

Olson

Lamb

Connery

et al. 2023

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

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Background: Infectious disease exposures in early life are increasingly recognized as a risk factor for poor subsequent growth and neurodevelopment. We aimed to evaluate the association between cumulative illness with neurodevelopment and growth outcomes in a birth cohort of Guatemalan infants. Methods: From June 2017 to July 2018, infants 0–3 months of age living in a resource-limited region of rural southwest Guatemala were enrolled and underwent weekly at-home surveillance for caregiver-reported cough, fever, and vomiting/diarrhea. They also underwent anthropometric assessments and neurodevelopmental testing with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) at enrollment, 6 months, and 1 year. Results: Of 499 enrolled infants, 430 (86.2%) completed all study procedures and were included in the analysis. At 12–15 months of age, 140 (32.6%) infants had stunting (length-for-age Z [LAZ] score < –2 SD) and 72 (16.7%) had microcephaly (occipital-frontal circumference [OFC] < –2 SD). In multivariable analysis, greater cumulative instances of reported cough illness (beta = –0.08/illness-week, P = 0.06) and febrile illness (beta = –0.36/illness-week, P < 0.001) were marginally or significantly associated with lower MSEL Early Learning Composite (ELC) Score at 12–15 months, respectively; there was no association with any illness (cough, fever, and/or vomiting/diarrhea; P = 0.27) or with cumulative instances of diarrheal/vomiting illness alone (P = 0.66). No association was shown between cumulative instances of illness and stunting or microcephaly at 12–15 months. Conclusions: These findings highlight the negative cumulative consequences of frequent febrile and respiratory illness on neurodevelopment during infancy. Future studies should explore pathogen-specific illnesses, host response associated with these syndromic illnesses, and their association with neurodevelopment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Cumulative Febrile, Respiratory, and Gastrointestinal Illness Among Infants in Rural Guatemala and Association With Neurodevelopmental and Growth Outcomes

Olson

Lamb

Connery

et al. 2023

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

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“…However, little is known about the burden among farmworkers in Mexico and other low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Recently, a study of banana farmworkers in Guatemala conducted from June 2020 to October 2021 ( 29 ) found a SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence (3.1 cases/100 person-years) similar to the one reported in a study of primarily Mexican-born and low-income farmworkers from California conducted from July to November 2020 ( 22 ). The latter study found that some of the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among farmworkers were low educational attainment, living in crowded housing or with unrelated roommates, living in urban areas, and working in the fields (or outdoors) rather than elsewhere in agriculture ( 30 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…These shared factors could potentially increase Mexican farmworkers’ risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. Notably, the study of farmworkers in Guatemala observed that those who experienced COVID-19 had greater disease severity, absenteeism, and economic losses than farmworkers with other influenza-like illnesses ( 29 ). Likewise, recent cross-sectional studies of primarily Mexican-born farmworkers in California and Washington State found that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges affecting mental health and food security among this vulnerable population ( 33 – 35 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in avocado farmworkers from Mexico

Armendáriz-Arnez,

Tamayo-Ortiz,

Mora-Ardila

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected farmworkers in the United States and Europe, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the specific impact of the pandemic on agriculture and food production workers in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and assess the mental health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among avocado farmworkers in Michoacan, Mexico.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of adult farmworkers (n = 395) in May 2021. We collected survey data, nasal swabs and saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection, and blood samples for immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactivity measurements.ResultsNone of the farmworkers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. However, among unvaccinated farmworkers (n = 336, 85%), approximately one-third (33%) showed evidence of past infection (positive for IgG against SARS-CoV-2). Unvaccinated farmworkers who lived with other farmworkers (aRR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.05), had ever lived with someone with COVID-19 (aRR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.43), and who had diabetes (aRR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.53, 2.85) had a higher risk of testing IgG-positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast, unvaccinated farmworkers living in more rural areas (outside of Tingambato or Uruapan) (aRR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.96) or cooking with wood-burning stove (aRR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.96) had a lower risk of IgG-positivity. Moreover, 66% of farmworkers reported a negative impact of the pandemic on their lives, 29% reported experiencing food insecurity and difficulty paying bills, and 10% reported depression or anxiety symptoms.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health and financial well-being of avocado farmworkers. Consequently, the implementation of interventions and prevention efforts, such as providing mental health support and food assistance services, is imperative.

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“…Research sites in Guatemala, India ( 28 ), Kenya, Peru, South Africa, and Thailand with CDC staff or collaborating with the agency expanded their influenza evaluation portfolios to engage in COVID-19 projects. Influenza population-based surveillance and Influenza Division–supported cohort studies in special populations are being used to investigate laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 incidence, infection risk and mitigating factors, reinfection, and post–COVID-19 conditions among agricultural workers in Guatemala ( 29 ), pregnant women in Kenya ( 30 ), older adults in India, and healthcare providers in Peru ( 31 ). Several of these cohorts are also examining COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness to SARS-CoV-2 variants by dosing schedules.…”

Section: Expansion Of Existing Influenza Evaluation Projects To Inclu...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging International Influenza Surveillance Systems and Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Marcenac¹,

McCarron²,

Davis³

et al. 2022

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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A network of global respiratory disease surveillance systems and partnerships has been built over decades as a direct response to the persistent threat of seasonal, zoonotic, and pandemic influenza. These efforts have been spearheaded by the World Health Organization, country ministries of health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nongovernmental organizations, academic groups, and others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked closely with ministries of health in partner countries and the World Health Organization to leverage influenza surveillance systems and programs to respond to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Countries used existing surveillance systems for severe acute respiratory infection and influenza-like illness, respiratory virus laboratory resources, pandemic influenza preparedness plans, and ongoing population-based influenza studies to track, study, and respond to SARS-CoV-2 infections. The incorporation of COVID-19 surveillance into existing influenza sentinel surveillance systems can support continued global surveillance for respiratory viruses with pandemic potential.

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Clinical and Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Agricultural Workers, Guatemala1

Cited by 7 publications

References 32 publications

Cumulative Febrile, Respiratory, and Gastrointestinal Illness Among Infants in Rural Guatemala and Association With Neurodevelopmental and Growth Outcomes

Cumulative Febrile, Respiratory, and Gastrointestinal Illness Among Infants in Rural Guatemala and Association With Neurodevelopmental and Growth Outcomes

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in avocado farmworkers from Mexico

Leveraging International Influenza Surveillance Systems and Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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