Online Program

281976
Community-informed and community-based learning: Curriculum development using CBPR from and for female farm workers of Florida


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Antonio Tovar, PhD, Farmworker Association of Florida, Apopka, FL
Jessica Culley, The Farmworkers Support Committee, Glassboro, NJ
Eugenia Economos, Farmworker Association of Florida, Apopka, FL
Linda A. McCauley, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAAOHN, School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Joan Flocks, JD, College of Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Background/Purpose: EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for Agricultural Pesticides, a regulation aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural workers, is for the most part the only health and safety training that agricultural workers will ever receive. However, agricultural workers face multiple occupational risks besides chemical exposure. A Community-Based Participatory Research Project between the Farmworker Association of Florida and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University explored risk perceptions and intervention (?) strategies among female nursery and fernery workers in Florida. Methods: 5 focus groups, over 250 interviews, 100 biomarkers and two community advisory boards were used to guide the development of a comprehensive curriculum targeting female farmworkers of reproductive age. Ergonomics, heat stress, and pesticides are covered using an array of techniques to facilitate learning, empowerment, and diffusion of information. Four pilot trainings were evaluated using focus groups with participants and observations by academic partners, who debriefed after each training conducted. In addition, participants concluded each training with role play scenarios that were partially audio or videotaped. Results/Outcomes: Data showed that most women worked in the fields while pregnant, perception of risk did not match levels of contamination, other risks associated with pregnancies were unrecognized, significant differences exist between nursery and fernery workers, and that awareness of risks and solutions created a sense of solidarity and urgency to promote better practices and desire for dissemination of information to co-workers. Conclusions: Comprehensive training targeting female farmworkers can potentially reduce pregnancies risks.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Explain formation and functions of particular CBPR Project with farmworkers Describe formative research and formulation of curriculum Analyze pilot training and strategies of diffusion

Keyword(s): Health Education Strategies, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As part of a CBPR project between Emory University and the Farmworker Association of Florida; I was able to collaborate on collecting data, developing a training model, conduct trainings with female farmworkers on reproductive age, and evaluate the process.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.