 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kerry Souza, MPH and Letitia Davis, ScD. Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5693, kerry.souza@state.ma.us
Background
Low-income minority and immigrant workers are believed to be over-represented in hazardous occupations and have poor access to health care and occupational health information. However, data describing the occupational health experience of these workers is lacking in many occupational health surveillance systems. As part of a surveillance research project to evaluate the feasibility of collecting occupational health information through community health centers (CHCs), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has administered a survey about work and occupational health experience to patients at 5 CHCs serving a predominantly low-income, minority and immigrant patient population.
Methods
A standardized survey was developed. Bilingual interviewers administered surveys (in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Khmer and Cape Verdean Creole) in CHC waiting rooms. Incentives were provided to respondents. Data entry into an ACCESS database, cleaning, coding, and analysis using SAS were performed.
Results
Analysis of a dataset of approximately 1400 surveys will be presented. Descriptive statistics presented will include 5 major categories of responses, with stratifications by gender, ethnicity, occupation, immigrant status, length of time in U.S., and other variables. Categories of responses are: occupation and industry; health and safety training; workplace hazards; experience of injury and illness from work; and knowledge of occupational health resources. This presentation will include discussion of difference in responses across occupation, industry, ethnic group and other categories. The dataset represents a sample of approximately 60% immigrant workers. Workers' awareness of workers’ compensation and OSHA are among the results that will be presented and discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Occupational Health, Health Centers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program
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.