“Essential” but Expendable: Farmworkers During the COVID-19 Pandemic—The Michigan Farmworker Project

Handal, Alexis J.; Iglesias-Ríos, Lisbeth; Fleming, Paul J.; Valentín-Cortés, Mislael; OʼNeill, Marie S.

doi:10.2105/ajph.2020.305947

Cited by 48 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Our work represents the first epidemiological study to address risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among U.S. farmworkers, and substantiates earlier concerns 6,28–30 that living and working conditions in this population may contribute to risk of infection. Several limitations should be considered.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…5 In California, at least half of farmworkers are believed to be undocumented, which could further lead to labor exploitation and a less protected working environment. 6 In a study in Monterey County, California, we have reported 4-fold higher SARS-CoV-2 test positivity among farmworkers than the county population at large, and 24% higher test positivity among farmworkers than other individuals residing in the same communities. 7 Statewide, agricultural and food workers experienced a 39% higher risk of all-cause death from March-October 2020 than during the same period in 2019 — a greater increase than any other occupational group; 8 for workers of Latino backgrounds, the increase in all-cause mortality was 60%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

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Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among farmworkers in Monterey County, California

Mora

Lewnard

Kogut

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Importance: Essential workers in agriculture and food production have been severely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To identify risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 shedding and antibody response in farmworkers in California. Design: This cross-sectional study collected survey data and determined current SARS-CoV-2 shedding and seropositivity among 1,107 farmworkers in California's Salinas Valley from 16 July to 30 November 2020. Setting: Farmworkers receiving transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection at federally qualified community clinics and community sites were invited to participate in our study. Participants: Individuals were eligible if they were not pregnant, were 18 years old or older, had conducted farm work since the pandemic started, and were proficient in English or Spanish. Exposures: Sociodemographic, household, community, and workplace characteristics. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Current (as indicated by TMA positivity) and historical (as indicated by IgG seropositivity) SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Most farmworkers enrolled in the study were born in Mexico, had primary school or lower levels of educational attainment, and were overweight or obese. Current SARS-CoV-2 shedding was associated in multivariable analyses with attained only primary or lower educational levels (RR=1.32; 95% CI: 0.99-1.76), speaking an indigenous language at home (RR=1.30; 0.97-1.73), working in the fields (RR=1.60; 1.03-2.50), and exposure to known or suspected COVID-19 case at home (RR=2.98; 2.06-4.32) or in the workplace (RR=1.59; 1.18-2.14). Antibody detection was associated with residential exposures including living in crowded housing (RR=1.23; 0.98-1.53), with children (RR=1.40; 1.1-1.76) or unrelated roommates (RR=1.40; 1.19-1.64), and with a known or suspected COVID-19 case (RR=1.59; 1.13-2.24). Those who were obese (RR=1.65; 1.01-2.70) or diabetic (RR=1.31; 0.98-1.75) were also more likely to be seropositive. Farmworkers who lived in rural areas other than Greenfield (RR=0.58; 0.47-0.71), worked indoors (RR=0.68; 0.61-0.77), or whose employer provided them with information on how to protect themselves at work (RR=0.59; 0.40-0.86) had lower risk of prior infection.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among farmworkers in Monterey County, California

Mora

Lewnard

Kogut

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…However, most individuals reported no contacts—a higher proportion than in some prior evaluations [ 5 , 6 ] but similar to another recent report [ 7 ]. Based on input from local partners, as well as experience from other states [ 8 ] we initially hypothesized that Hispanic individuals might be less willing to report contacts because of concerns about immigration status and job security. However, there was no difference in reporting of contacts by ethnicity, and minimal differences by age group, sex, and employment status.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Central Washington State, June–July 2020

et al. 2021

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Objective To evaluate participation in COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing in central Washington State between June 15 and July 12, 2020. Methods In this retrospective observational evaluation we combined SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and antigen test reports from the Washington Disease Reporting System with community case investigation and contact tracing data for 3 health districts (comprising 5 counties) in central Washington State. All 3 health districts have large Hispanic communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Results Investigators attempted to call all referred individuals with COVID-19 (n = 4,987); 71% were interviewed. Of those asked about close contacts (n = 3,572), 68% reported having no close contacts, with similar proportions across ethnicity, sex, and age group. The 968 individuals with COVID-19 who named specific contacts (27% of those asked) reported a total of 2,293 contacts (mean of 2.4 contacts per individual with COVID-19); 85% of listed contacts participated in an interview. Conclusions Most individuals with COVID-19 reported having no close contacts. Increasing community engagement and public messaging, as well as understanding and addressing barriers to participation, are crucial for CICT to contribute meaningfully to controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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“…In the context of the pandemic, Latinos are more likely to experience a negative impact on their living conditions whether or not they contracted the disease because a large proportion are essential workers mainly employed in all food industry sectors, including farms (agriculture, livestock, and fishing), processing packaging, and distribution (Handal, 2020; McCormack, 2020; Williams, 2020). They are also overrepresented in other service areas such as construction and housekeeping.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on Latinos: A Social Determinants of Health Model and Scoping Review of the Literature

Snyder

McDaniel

Padilla

et al. 2021

Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences

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The purpose of this scoping review of the literature was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the living conditions of Latinos (Hispanics) in the U.S. from a social determinants of health perspective. We developed a conceptual model based on the social determinants of health framework to guide the search, extraction, analysis, and interpretation of the bibliographic material. A systematic review of peer reviewed literature published in 2020 in scientific journals in the social, health, and behavioral sciences was conducted. A total of 37 articles met the selection criteria, 12 were original investigations with primary data collection, and 25 were studies reporting results of secondary data analysis using public or private databases. The representation of Latinos in the study samples ranged from 5% to 40%. The results of our review are compelling in terms of the overrepresentation of Latinos in SARSCoV-2 positivity and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates. The risk factors identified include working in a job considered essential, living in a geographic area with a high population density of Latinos and blacks, overcrowded living conditions in the household, limited English proficiency, and being unable to systematically carry out preventive behaviors known to be effective for infection avoidance. Existing national surveys and registries suffer from assumptions and omissions regarding variables relevant to Latinos. New studies must be guided by inquiries on the usual social determinants of health, but also those relevant for Latinos, such as national group, generational status, and language, among others.

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“Essential” but Expendable: Farmworkers During the COVID-19 Pandemic—The Michigan Farmworker Project

Cited by 48 publications

References 3 publications

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among farmworkers in Monterey County, California

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among farmworkers in Monterey County, California

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Central Washington State, June–July 2020

Impact of COVID-19 on Latinos: A Social Determinants of Health Model and Scoping Review of the Literature

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