Health Challenges Facing Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers

Introduction

Migrant and seasonal farm workers are an important and integral part of the American agricultural enterprise. According to recent figures, there are more than three million farm workers who earn their livelihood through migrant or seasonal farm labor (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005). However, the general conditions facing these workers indicate that they are subject to often severe health challenges. These challenges are related not only to the nature of their work but also to other factors such as poverty and unstable working arrangements, which can have a significant impact on their health and their ability to access health coverage and care (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005).

Research reveals some alarming facts regarding hired farm workers in the United States. Villarejo, in his study The Health of U.S. Hired Farm Workers (2003), states that "despite a recent surge in knowledge about U.S. hired farm workers, little is known about the health of this population" (Villarejo, 175). As Villarejo and others note, the health problems of migrating farm workers have been recognized as a serious concern by health authorities and governmental agencies for many years.

The definition of migrant farm workers is also an important aspect in determining the various factors affecting their health. The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSAWPA) recognizes two classes of farm worker: migrant agricultural workers and seasonal agricultural workers. A migrant agricultural worker is defined as "an individual who is employed in agricultural employment of a seasonal or other temporary nature, and is required to be absent overnight from his permanent place of residence" (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005). A seasonal agricultural worker refers to "an individual who is employed in agricultural employment of a seasonal or other temporary nature and is not required to be absent overnight from his permanent place of residence" (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005).

Statistics and Demographics

The population of farm workers classified as "hired workers" is considered a special population "associated with a combination of higher than average occupational risk exposure as well as poorer than average health status" (Villarejo, 175). According to Villarejo, "demographic data shows that these workers are mostly Mexican immigrant or migrant males, and nearly two-thirds live in poverty" (Villarejo, 175). Furthermore, approximately half of these workers are undocumented, which has significant implications for health provisions and coverage. While the estimated number of hired workers was half a million in 1980, more recent statistics indicate a much higher figure of three million workers who "earn their living through migrant and seasonal farm labor, traveling the nation to support an agricultural industry which yielded $28 billion in fruit and vegetable business in 2001 alone" (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005).

The National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) found that approximately eighty percent of these workers were born in Mexico or Central America, and, more importantly, two-thirds live in relative poverty (Villarejo, 176). Half of these workers earn less than $10,000 per year. In 2000, the median income for migrant and seasonal farm workers was $6,250, compared to $42,000 for the average U.S. worker (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005).

An important fact is that more than fifty percent of all migratory workers in the United States lack any immigration authorization, which further complicates their eligibility for health benefits and provisions. Another demographic factor bearing on health is that the NAWS found that almost all of these workers originate from outside the United States (Villarejo, 176). A report by the National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH) states that it is estimated that 85% of all migrant workers are minorities, of whom most are Hispanic — including Mexican-Americans as well as Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and workers from Central and South America. The migrant population also includes Black and African-Americans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Laotians, Thais, and other racial and ethnic minorities (Overview of America's Farmworkers).

This diversity means that problems of culture, language, and communication also affect health issues and access to care. A key statistic is that only five percent of hired workers performing seasonal agricultural services reported having personal health insurance (Villarejo, 177), and more than fifty percent stated that they had no form of workers' compensation insurance.

Mortality Rates, Diseases, and General Health Risks

In essence, the demographics describe a population with comparatively low socioeconomic status and high health risks. The fact that many of these workers are undocumented further complicates and exacerbates the issue of health provision and care for both the workers and their families. On a more positive note, Villarejo also points out that the majority of hired farm workers are relatively young, and will therefore be less prone to age-related health issues.

Studies show that farm workers are at high risk from a wide range of illnesses and health hazards. According to one review, "while agriculture-related employment comprised only 2% of overall employment, agricultural and livestock-related production, along with agricultural services, comprised 13% of all occupational deaths over a 1994–1999 time period" (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005). Research also shows a disproportionately high level of mortality for several health risks particularly associated with this demographic, including death from work-related injuries as well as from diseases such as tuberculosis, hypertension, and cirrhosis (Villarejo, 180).

There is a general consensus among researchers that "workers in agriculture run at least twice the risk of dying on the job as workers in other sectors" (ILO warns on farm safety). This view applies not only to American farm workers but to workers in other regions of the world as well. Inadequate education, training, and safety systems are cited among the primary reasons (ILO warns on farm safety). The International Labour Organization (ILO) states that in developed countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States, agriculture ranks consistently among the most hazardous industries. In the U.S., for example, farmers and farm workers comprise only 3% of the workforce but account for nearly 8% of all work-related accidents. In Italy, 9.7% of workers are in agricultural production but account for 28.7% of accidents (ILO warns on farm safety).

Several reports further emphasize that migrant workers and their families experience lower levels of general health compared to the broader population. The infant mortality rate among migrants is 125% higher than in the general population, and the life expectancy of migrant farm workers is 49 years, in contrast to the national average of 75 years (Health Problems among Migrant Farmworkers' Children in the U.S.).

The general health risks faced by farm workers can result from various aspects of their occupation and lifestyle, including work-related accidents and exposure to chemicals, and can include increased rates of chronic conditions such as musculoskeletal injuries that may lead to serious disabilities or fatalities. More than 40% of all workers surveyed reported leaving or changing jobs as a result of chronic pain (Rosenbaum and Shin, 2005).

Among the health conditions reported at comparatively high rates in this demographic are respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as skin problems (Health Problems among Migrant Farmworkers' Children in the U.S.). The risk of contracting infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis, is also frequently noted in the literature. This is supported by data showing that between 1984 and 1985, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a survey of tuberculosis cases reported in 29 states and found that farm workers accounted for more than 5% of all TB cases (Tuberculosis and Migrant Farm Workers).

Conclusion

There is little doubt that the increasing number of hired farm workers has exacerbated health issues and problems surrounding access to health insurance and medical aid. While these are serious health problems, the number of workers involved is relatively small in proportion to the broader population. This has led many commentators to suggest that relatively modest changes and innovations in the present system could produce far-reaching improvements in healthcare for these workers. Language and cultural barriers, for example, create real obstacles to proper healthcare and are aspects that can be meaningfully addressed through organized assistance.