COVID-19 Pandemic Among Immigrant Latinx Farmworker and Non-farmworker Families: A Rural–Urban Comparison of Economic, Educational, Healthcare, and Immigration Concerns

Abstract

COVID-19 has revealed social and health inequities in the United States. Structural inequalities have increased the likelihood of immigrants contracting COVID-19, by being essential workers and through poverty that forces this population to continue working. Rural and urban immigrant families may face different concerns. Using a telephone survey in May 2020 of 105 Latinx families in an existing study, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered on work and household economics, childcare and education, healthcare, and community climate. Analyses show that, although rural and urban groups experienced substantial economic effects, impacts were more acute for urban families. Rural workers reported fewer workplace protective measures for COVID-19. For both groups, fear and worry, particularly about finances and children, dominated reports of their situations with numerous reports of experiencing stress and anxiety. The experience of the pandemic is interpreted as an example of contextual vulnerability of a population already experiencing structural violence through social injustice. Policy implications are highlighted.

Health of International Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

“…Of the 26 included studies ( 24 – 49 ) almost half (12 of 26) were conducted in Asia ( 24 , 26 , 30 , 32 – 35 , 37 , 41 , 44 , 47 , 49 ) and 8 in Europe. Fourteen papers used a quantitative design ( 24 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 40 , 42 – 44 , 46 , 48 ), 5 applied mixed methods ( 29 , 31 , 34 , 38 , 45 ) and 23 used primary data sources ( 24 – 29 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 36 – 49 ) ( Table 2 ).…”

“…Figure 2 shows the geographical, legal, and occupational characteristics of the migrant workers in the 26 studies. Most immigrant populations represented in the studies originated from countries in Asia (16 of 26 studies) ( 24 , 26 , 27 , 31 – 34 , 37 , 38 , 41 – 44 , 47 – 49 ) and Latin America (8 of 26) ( 25 , 28 , 29 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 44 , 46 ). Other characteristics of the studied populations were often not described in the methodology of the papers: only 9 studies clearly described migrants' length of stay in the host country ( 24 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 48 ), most of which were long stays (five or more years) and migrants' legal status was not specified in 20 studies ( 26 – 30 , 32 – 34 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 42 – 49 ).…”

“…Other characteristics of the studied populations were often not described in the methodology of the papers: only 9 studies clearly described migrants' length of stay in the host country ( 24 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 48 ), most of which were long stays (five or more years) and migrants' legal status was not specified in 20 studies ( 26 – 30 , 32 – 34 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 42 – 49 ). Seven studies had a comparison group ( 29 , 30 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 40 , 45 ), most frequently the majority population (6 of 7 studies) ( 30 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 40 , 45 ). Regarding occupation sectors, most of the migrant population were considered essential workers in sectors related to healthcare (6 of 26) ( 24 , 27 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 39 ) and other essential sectors (11 of 26) ( 25 – 30 , 35 , 38 , 43 , 45 , 46 ) such as agriculture or construction.…”

“…As showed in Table 3 , most of the selected studies found negative outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of migrant workers (24 of 26) ( 24 – 29 , 31 – 33 , 35 – 49 ). Fourteen studies described the impact of COVID-19 on migrants' physical health ( 25 , 27 , 28 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 39 – 42 , 44 – 46 , 49 ), 10 studies described COVID-19 outbreaks ( 25 , 27 , 28 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 40 , 42 , 45 , 46 ), and the remaining 4 studies mentioned other physical problems such as headaches, sleeping difficulty, respiratory problems, and chest pain ( 39 , 41 , 44 , 49 ).…”

Innovative Cohort Process to Minimize COVID-19 Infection for Migrant Farmworkers During Travel to Iowa

“…During the early days and months of the pandemic there was a steady stream of lay media reports that focused on the disproportionate effect the pandemic was having on ethnic communities, including Latinx and Black communities in the US (Lai & Lin, 2020;Oppell et al, 2020aOppell et al, , 2020b. The migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) community experienced high COVID-19 risk complicated by existing challenges related to structural and social determinants of health (Fan & Pena, 2021;Handal et al 2020;Lauzardo et al 2021;Lewnard et al, 2021;Quandt et al, 2021;Ramos, 2018;Sattler, 2019). To date, over 480 thousand agricultural workers have been infected by COVID-19 across the country (Purdue University, n.d.); however, only 14 states have implemented farmworker protections during the pandemic (Berkowitz, 2020).…”