Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111755

Isabel Martinez Noth, MPH¹, Linda S. Forst, MD, MPH, MS², and Rocio Jimenez, MS¹. (1) School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Community Health Sciences Division (M/C 923), 1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612-4394, 773-544-1863, imartine@kent.edu, (2) School of Public Health/Occupational and Evironmental Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 914 S. Wood Street, M/C 684, Chicago, IL 60612

Eye injuries and illnesses are common work hazards in agriculture; The majority of injuries could be prevented with protective eyewear use. Research investigating effectiveness of eye injury prevention within agriculture is limited, particularly regarding Latino migrant farmworkers (LMFW). Findings are presented from a qualitative study, part of a larger quantitative investigation, that examined the process by which workers' occupational risk perception influences eyewear use. Ethnographic interviews and focus groups were conducted with 55 LMFW. Interview themes included attitude, knowledge and experiences regarding occupational health risks; eye injuries/illnesses and eyewear use. Findings reveal workers were familiar with temporary discomforts, but had limited understanding of long-term health consequences, particularly eye diseases. This lack of knowledge appeared to diminish sense of risk. Perceived risk seemed to influence decisions regarding PPE use. Workers tended not to wear PPE if they believed conditions presented only short-term discomforts. In contrast, knowledge of chronic occupational health problems apparently increased risk perception. Greater risk perception plus knowledge of practices that reduce illness/injury positively correlated with PPE use decisions. History of diagnosed, work-related, eye disease reportedly increased risk perception and eyewear use. Employer safety practices apparently affected workers' risk perception and PPE decisions. Employers who didn't distribute PPE for particular tasks or neglected to enforce use, negatively impacted risk perception and use. Further public health efforts should aim at understanding this special population of workers' risk perception and PPE decision-making so future eye injury interventions may be appropriately designed. Recommendations for education, clinical, and governmental agency practices are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify contributors to eye injuries/illness identified by LMFW
• Identify factors that contribute to LMFW occupational risk perception
• Understand how risk perception relates to LMFW PPE use
• Describe a framework that helps to understand LMFW occupation risk perception and PPE use decision making
• Recognize how the conceptual framework can be applied in eye injury/illness prevention programs

Keywords: Migrant Farm Workers, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation