COVID-19 Pandemic among Latinx Farmworker and Non-farmworker Families in North Carolina: Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Preventive Behaviors

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses substantial threats to Latinx farmworkers and other immigrants in food production and processing. Classified as essential, such workers cannot shelter at home. Therefore, knowledge and preventive behaviors are important to reduce COVID-19 spread in the community. (2) Methods: Respondents for 67 families with at least one farmworker (FWF) and 38 comparable families with no farmworkers (non-FWF) in North Carolina completed a telephone survey in May, 2020. The survey queried knowledge of COVID-19, perceptions of its severity, self-efficacy, and preventive behaviors. Detailed data were collected to document household members' social interaction and use of face coverings. (3) Results: Knowledge of COVID-19 and prevention methods was high in both groups, as was its perceived severity. Non-FWF had higher self-efficacy for preventing infection. Both groups claimed to practice preventive behaviors, though FWF emphasized social avoidance and non-FWF emphasized personal hygiene. Detailed social interactions showed high rates of inter-personal contact at home, at work, and in the community with more mask use in non-FWF than FWF. (4) Conclusions: Despite high levels of knowledge and perceived severity for COVID-19, these immigrant families were engaged in frequent interpersonal contact that could expose community members and themselves to COVID-19.

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

“…Mental health data gathered nationally early in the pandemic show increased effects on mental health 32 and suggest that the effects will result in more mental health impairment in disadvantaged groups, such as immigrants, as they cope with greater financial insecurity and grief caused by greater pandemic morbidity and mortality. 33 In addition, we have shown elsewhere 10 that these women are well informed about the causes of COVID-19 and recommended practices to prevent it. Their comments here reflect this knowledge and their inability to practice some of the methods to prevent COVID-19 in their families.…”

“…7-9 In addition, many immigrants live in crowded housing and multi-family dwellings that do not permit social distancing. 10 These risk factors for exposure to COVID-19 are exacerbated by the fact that many immigrants have low incomes, cannot communicate well in English, and lack documentation status to be in the US and to access health and income safety net programs. 11,12 For many immigrants, even if their particular job is not deemed essential, their low incomes and limited savings force them to continue working.…”

“…Immigrant workers share the concerns of other US residents about the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic to their health and that of their families. 10 However, their concerns may extend to anticipated outcomes in other aspects of life. Clark et al 4 suggest that anticipated outcomes may fall into three domains in addition to health and medical: economic (including fewer days or hours of work, job loss, and inability to pay bills including rent); legal (lack of eligibility for unemployment and other benefits), and social (including food insecurity, children’s difficulty with obtaining quality education, and worsening political and community climate surrounding immigration).…”

“…In research to date about fears in the pandemic among immigrant workers, health has been emphasized (e.g., 10 ). Less attention has been paid to concerns of immigrant workers in these other domains.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Hesitancy among Farmworkers from Monterey County, California

“…More specifically, in COFS, 63% of farmworkers had more difficulty paying rent, 60% paying utilities, and 70% buying food during the pandemic (Rick Mines, Personal Communication, December 5, 2020), and overall, 52% of farmworkers reported a decrease in employment. 21 The economic impact on farmworkers and their families is not limited to California in that smaller studies in Oregon 22 and North Carolina 23 reported similar loss of employment and economic hardship among farmworkers.…”