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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Linda A. McCauley, PhD, Jennifer Scherer, MPH, Sarah Michaels, MPH, and Diana Sticker, MPH. Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd.L606, Portland, OR 97201, 503 494 2501, mccauley@ohsu.edu
Overall Session: Youth Worker Safety: Understanding the Problem
It is estimated that adolescents make up seven percent of the seasonal agricultural workforce in the US. These young workers may be at increased risk for the toxic effects of environmental exposures encountered during their work. Furthermore, language barriers and health beliefs may influence the risk perceptions and protective behaviors of this population. Cross-sectional surveys of over 200 migrant Latino adolescent farmworkers were conducted in three agricultural communities throughout Oregon between 1998-2001. Questionnaires explored knowledge of pesticides and their effects, agricultural work experience, and occupational health beliefs. Few of the adolescents reported having received pesticide training, an occupational requirement, prior to beginning agricultural work. Approximately 20% of the youth participating in this study indicated that they currently or previously mixed and/or applied agricultural chemicals, an activity that requires specialized training, testing, licensure, and carries a minimum age requirement. The results of this study point to a need for improved pesticide training in youth agricultural workers and specialized education efforts directed toward the increasing number of minority youth speaking speak indigenous dialects. Special attention is merited towards those adolescent farmworkers who report that their work includes mixing or applying agricultural chemicals. As the number of adolescent farmworkers increases in the U.S. and the characteristics of the migrant stream continue to change, culturally and developmentally appropriate instruments are needed to adequately assess the health beliefs and protective practices of this population.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Adolescents
Related Web page: www.ohsu.edu/aghealth/adolescent.html
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.