Health Status of Children of Migrant Farm Workers: Farm Worker Family Health Program, Moultrie, Georgia

Abstract

Objectives. We evaluated the health status of migrant farmworkers’ children served by the Farm Worker Family Health Program (FWFHP) in Moultrie, Georgia. Methods. We analyzed data from children aged 0 to 16 years examined through the FWFHP from 2003 to 2011 (n across years = 179–415). We compared their prevalence of overweight, obesity, elevated blood pressure, anemia, and stunting with that of children in the United States and Mexico. Results. Across study years, prevalence of overweight, obesity, elevated blood pressure, anemia, and stunting ranged from 13.5% to 21.8%, 24.0% to 37.4%, 4.1% to 20.2%, 10.1% to 23.9%, and 1% to 6.4%, respectively. Children in the FWFHP had a higher prevalence of obesity than children in all comparison groups, and FWFHP children aged 6 to 12 years had a higher prevalence of elevated blood pressure than all comparison groups. Older FWFHP children had a higher prevalence of anemia than US children and Mexican children. Children in FWFHP had a higher prevalence of stunting than US and Mexican American children. Conclusions. We observed an elevated prevalence of obesity, anemia among older age groups, and stunting in this sample of children of migrant workers.

Anticipatory Guidance about Child Diet and Physical Activity for Latino Farmworker Mothers

“…Nichols et al 12 report somewhat lower rates of obesity and overweight among children in Georgia farmworker families. However, as Nichols and colleagues point out, the level of obesity is greater among farmworker children compared with all children and Mexican American children participating in NHANES, which is worrisome as Mexican American children have some of the highest rates of childhood obesity 9 and severe childhood obesity.…”

“…11,12 Rosado et al 11 report that of 472 pre-school and elementary school-aged children (mean age of 6.4 years, SD=3.2) in Florida farmworker families, 27.0% are obese and 20.1% are overweight. They argue that health care providers setting goals is important to reduce overweight and obesity.…”

“…They argue that health care providers setting goals is important to reduce overweight and obesity. Nichols et al 12 report that, of 2–5 year old children in farmworker families, 10.2% are overweight and 18.2% are obese; of children 6 to 11 years, 21.2% are overweight and 29.4% are obese, and of children 12 to 19 years, 16.8% are overweight and 31.6% are obese. Obesity is greater among farmworker children compared with all children and Mexican American children participating in NHANES.…”

“…Obesity is greater among farmworker children compared with all children and Mexican American children participating in NHANES. 12 …”

Residential Environment for Outdoor Play Among Children in Latino Farmworker Families

“…Children of Latino farmworkers are no exception to the high rates of obesity and limited physical activity among Latinos residing in the United States [10,16-18]. Of pre-school and elementary school aged children (mean age of 6.4 years, Standard Deviation (SD) 3.2) in Florida Latino farmworker families, 27.0% were obese and 20.1% were overweight [16].…”