Evaluation of a risk reduction program among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Colorado

Abstract

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers perform much of the hand labor required by growers in the United States. Although they perform essential work in producing food for the country, they are one of America's most underserved and understudied populations. This low socioeconomic population has limited access to health care, and suffers from numerous other conditions that increase their risk of developing work related injuries and illnesses. Of major concern is their exposure to agricultural chemicals. High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (HI-CAHS) has implemented programs to reduce farmworkers' risks. A recently developed pesticide risk reduction program is in effect to reduce exposures among migrant and seasonal farmworkers. This program surpasses the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) criteria required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pesticide safety training/awareness provided by HI-CAHS to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The criteria for the effectiveness of pesticide risk reduction program was (1) increase in pesticide knowledge, (2) improvement in safer-y risk perception, and (3) observed behaviors (audits) related to pesticide safety (p<0.05). This theory-based investigation was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the HI-CAHS program through a group interview process. This process measured the improvement in (1) pesticide knowledge, (2) pesticide safety risk perception, and (3) pesticide safety behavior (per safety audit). Migrant farmworkers' attitudes and beliefs associated with the risk reduction pesticide program were evaluated using the multidimensional health locus of control (MHLC) and the Stages of Change Model. Four pesticide safety behaviors were evaluated using the Stages of Change Model. An experimental study of 152 migrant and seasonal farmworkers employed in Adams and Weld County, Colorado was conducted. A nonequivalent pre-test-post-test control group design was used to evaluate the efficacy of the pesticide safety training provided. Results indicated that the pesticide training provided by HI-CAHS led to greater migrant farmworker safety risk perception (p<0.05) and pesticide safety knowledge (p<0.05). Migrant workers tended to believe that control of their health status was in the hands of powerful others or chance. Of those migrant farmworkers, 67% scored with less than 25 for Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLC). Only 5% of the farmworkers scored less than 20 for Powerful Others Health Locus of Control (PHLC), and 15% had a score equal to or less than 16 for Chance Health Locus of Control (CHLC). Significant associations were found between the MHLC and the Stages of Change model (p<0.05). The Stages of Change model was instrumental in the evaluation of the safety behaviors in the pesticide risk reduction program. Safety audits reflected a high number of ergonomic hazards. The work environment, including field and housing conditions for the migrant and seasonal farmworkers, was in urgent need of improvement. Safe drinking water and compliance with housing and field regulations needed to be addressed.