Agricultural injuries are frequently underreported and understudied, despite their significant impact on the individuals and communities affected. Local news media often serve as one of the few public-facing sources of information about such incidents, typically reporting on who was involved, what occurred, where and when the event happened, and occasionally, why it took place. This study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the demographic characteristicsand narrative themes found in media reports of agricultural injuries across seven Midwestern states. Using anthropological approaches and perspectives, the research explored how media portrayals of these incidents may shape public perceptions of agricultural risk and influence safety-related behaviors within ruralcommunities. A database was developed using media reports of agricultural injuries collected by the Central States Center fo rAgricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) and Ag Injury News. The dataset included 154 news articles published between 2017 and 2024, documenting 200 agricultural injuries. Demographic and narrative content were analyzed to address the following research questions: (1) What types of messaging are emphasized in media headlines? (2) What forms of support for victims are mentioned in the articles? and (3) How is injury prevention addressed within the narratives? Analysis revealed a high incidence of roadway-related injuries and identified injury trends disproportionately affecting older and male agricultural workers. Nearly one-third of the articles analyzed referred to incidents as "accidents," suggesting a potentially passive framing of preventable events. Prevention was mentioned in only 31.2% of articles; 24.7% referenced risky behaviors, while just 3.9% explicitly described prevention techniques. The data also offer insight into rural support systems, with references to financial or labor support, emotional support, and faith-based support. Furthermore, 63% of headlines conveyed no clear sentiment, and none of the reports included injuries involving immigrant workers. These findings support recommendations for journalists to enhance both the quality and frequency of prevention messaging and to avoid using the term "accident" when describing preventable incidents. Additionally, health and safety professionals can use these insights, particularly the influence of community, faith, and economics to inform the development of culturally appropriate prevention strategies and interventions.
Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic disease that may act as a potential occupational health hazard for animal handlers, including animal healthcare professionals. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of brucellosis in animal handlers of district Khanewal, Pakistan. A total of 241 animal handlers (including butchers, animal-attendants/farmers, and veterinary assistants) were approached for inclusion in this study. However, 184 sera samples of animal handlers who gave consents to participate in this study were collected and screened for brucellosis by slide agglutination test (SAT) and commercially available iELISA kit (sensitivity = 96%, specificity = 99%). A total of 11 variables were statistically analyzed by bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine their association with brucellosis, and differences were considered significant at p-value < .05. Results of SAT showed a seropositivity rate of 4.89% for anti-Brucella (B.) abortus antibodies and 6.52% for anti-B. melitensis antibodies. The co-existence of antibodies to both Brucella species in analyzed sera samples was 1.09%. All the sera-samples were also analyzed by iELISA, and results revealed an overall seroprevalence rate of 9.78% for anti-Brucella IgM antibodies. Statistical analysis revealed that gender (OR = 1.5; 95%OR = 0.135-18.54), occupation (OR = 0.163; 95%OR = 0.215-0.791), body mass index (OR = 9.3; 95%OR = 2.11-45.01), and consumption of unpasteurized milk (OR = 7.48; 95%OR = 2.23-28.94) were significantly associated (p-value < .05) with seroprevalence of brucellosis among animal handlers. Whereas some risk factors such as age, marital-status, consumption of semi/undercooked meat, educational status, and lack of awareness regarding brucellosis did not show any significant association (p-value > .05). The study concluded that brucellosis is prevalent in animal handlers of the study area. Findings of this study underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as regular health screenings, improved occupational health policies, and better hygiene practices while dealing with animals. These findings also demand stronger public health policies, particularly in developing regions, to avoid brucellosis and improve overall occupational health standards.
Noise from agricultural tractors is a critical occupational health hazard, often leading to Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This study aims to assess the risk of NIHL among Indian Agricultural Tractor Drivers (ATD) and enrich the understanding of such risks using unsupervised data mining techniques. A cross-sectional study was conducted on audiometric profile of Indian ATD with driving experience ranging from 5 to 43 years, and audiometry testing was done with 0.125 kHz to 8 kHz of frequencies. Participants were selected from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. The k-means clustering techniques, an unsupervised learning method, was applied to classify the audiometric data. Z-scores were used to evaluate cluster homogeneity and separation, while ANOVA was performed to determine the significance of various factors, including age, experience, and weight, on hearing impairment. The mean hearing threshold levels were the lowest for drivers with less than 10 years of experience and highest for those with over 10 years of experience. The mean age of the drivers at the time of testing was 39.5 (±10.2) years. The audiometric data did not follow a normal distribution, necessitating the use of k-means clustering for analysis of both the ears. All audiometric frequencies showed statistically significant between-cluster differences, though with notably lower F-values compared to the right ear, ranging from 4.946 at 8 kHz (p = .011) to 19.461 at 1 kHz (p < .001). While age, experience, and weight were not significant for some parameters, other factors showed significant impacts on hearing impairment. Notably, the effect of different frequencies on both right and left ears was significant, highlighting the potential risks associated with prolonged tractor operation. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using k-means clustering to analyze audiometric data effectively. This method could play a vital role in hearing conservation programs for individuals exposed to occupational noise at agricultural workplaces. Raising legislative awareness and implementing customized safety programs to promote tractors with reduced noise levels are recommended.
Environmental allergies plague millions of adults every year. Farmers and ranchers are at a heightened risk of exposure to allergens due to their occupation. Few studies have addressed the contribution of occupational exposures to environmental allergies and potential preventive strategies to reduce exposure. The objective of this study is to determine whether occupational exposures affect the risk of environmental allergies among farmers and ranchers in the central midwestern states. Surveillance data from the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Surveys from 2018, 2020, and 2023 were analyzed to investigate risk factors for environmental allergies. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations. The study was conducted across seven states, including Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Surveys were mailed to randomly selected agricultural operations. Eligible participants were farm and ranch operators with an email address and an estimated gross farm income of at least $5,000. The study was sent to "operators" defined as those who manage a farm or ranch business. The primary outcome variable is the presence of environmental allergies, assessed through self-reported physician-diagnosed allergies. The primary variable of interest was air contaminant exposure. Additional predictor variables included skin exposures, musculoskeletalexposures, workstrain symptoms,musculoskeletal discomfort, sex, age, type of operation, primary occupation, percentage of worktime, and production variables. Beingfemale (OR = 1.84) and having a primary occupation other than farm/ranch work (OR = 1.47) were significantly associated with higher odds of environmental allergies. Surprisingly, participants without symptoms of work strain (OR = 1.72), musculoskeletal discomfort (OR = 1.93), and musculoskeletal exposures (OR = 1.48) were positivelyassociated with environmental allergies. Occupational exposures, including respiratory exposure to grain, feed, or hay dust (OR = 1.43), road dust (OR = 1.39), skin contact with pesticides or fertilizers (OR = 1.22), and detergents and disinfectants (OR = 1.22) increased theodds of having environmental allergies. Dairy (OR = 0.61) and grainproduction (OR = 0.75) decreased the odds. These findings highlight the need for occupational health interventions aimed at reducing respiratory and skin exposures in farm and ranch environments.
The effects of pesticide exposure on human health are a significant concern in the global agricultural sector. However, developed risk matrix of occupational exposure and pesticide screening have rarely been studied. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of a developed occupational risk assessment matrix. Data were collected from both an interview questionnaire and serum cholinesterase testing by using cholinesterase reactive paper. The participants were 421 pesticide sprayers in northeastern Thailand. The risk matrix (4x4) was developed by multiplying the likelihood of pesticide exposure by the severity level of adverse symptoms. The risk score was classified into acceptable and unacceptable levels of risk. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the risk matrix were assessed by using a standard 2 × 2table. Most of the sprayers were male (69%) and their ages ranged between 19 and 76 years old (mean = 53; SD = 10). Abnormal cholinesterase test results indicated an unsafe level of risk for 48% of sprayers (95% CI: 44% -53%). The risk matrix showed that the largest proportion of sprayers (42.52%, 95%CI: 38% -47%) were classified as moderate risk, followed by those at a low-to-very high risk (57%, 95% CI: 53% -62%). The risk matrix findings showed a sensitivity of 73.17% (95% CI: 69% -77%) and a specificity of 64% (95% CI: 59% -68%) for risk screening. The positive predictive value was 99% (95% CI: 98% -100%), the negative predictive value was 6% (95% CI: 4% -8%) and the accuracy was 73% (95% CI: 69% -77%). Conclusion: These pesticide sprayers represent a high-risk group, highlighting the need for effective guidance in conducting risk assessment programs for pesticide exposure. Therefore, this developed risk matrix is also valuable for health screening among pesticide applicators.
Roughly 70% agricultural nursery workers report musculoskeletal dysfunction and fall-related injuries. Exercise has been shown to improve musculoskeletal health and fall risk, but the literature on the benefits of exercise in nursery workers is rare. This mixed-methods feasibility study aimed to elucidate the benefits of an employee-sponsored exercise class for nursery workers. Twenty-five workers were randomized into either the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy (SSSH) resistance training program (n = 14) or control group (n = 11) for 8 weeks. Those assigned to SSSH performed eight exercises twice weekly at their workplace during business hours, while controls were asked to maintain their habits. Pre/post eight-week measures included health, pain, and sleep surveys and functional performance tests of static and dynamic balance, strength, and flexibility. Finally, interviews were conducted pre/post to gauge participants' perceptions of barriers and facilitators for health behaviors such as exercise. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests to assess baseline differences and two-way, mixed repeated measures analyses of variance models to observe interactions and main effects of time and group for all measures, α ≤ 0.05. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on interview data. There were no baseline differences between SSSH and controls (all p ≥ .061). Participants were on average 39 years old, had a BMI of 25.5 kg/m2, reported poor sleep quality (PSQI 6.2), and 220 min/wk of physical activity. Over time, timed-up-and-go, 5 sit-to-stand, hand grip strength, and lower-body flexibility improved (all p ≤ .019). Post-hoc analyses revealed pre/post-performance changes only in the SSSH group (all p ≤ .035). Further, qualitative interviews suggest that employee-sponsored SSSH programming improved many areas of nursery workers' physical, interpersonal, and psychological health. Specifically, four themes emerged, which included labor-intensive job demands as a barrier to exercise engagement, multidimensional health benefits of SSSH, improved job performance after SSSH, and inspiration and insufficiency of SSSH. For example, those in the SSSH group noted improved personal confidence to complete work-related tasks. Conclusion: Employee-sponsored SSSH improved physical performance associated with falls and injury risk and most participants noted a general enjoyment of and benefits from SSSH pointing to the potential value of it to improve nursery workers' injury risk and health.
Agriculture employs about a third of the world's workforce and has been identified as having a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs); however, little is known about specific agricultural sectors, particularly apiculture (commercial beekeeping). This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey investigating the prevalence of MSDs among apiarists (commercial beekeepers) in New Zealand. A further objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of MSDs on apiarists. Apiarists in New Zealand were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire to assess a 12-month and 7-day prevalence of MSDs using a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Supplementary questions assessed frequency of MSD, the discomfort severity, and limitations with work. In addition, open-ended questions invited apiarists to suggest what they believed contributed to their MSD. We categorized the responses into five key WRMSD risk factors (Physical/Biomechanical; Work Organizational; Individual; Environmental; Psychosocial). Results from a sample of 73 apiarists showed the overall 12-month prevalence of any MSD to be 89% (95%CI = 79.6-94.6), with a 7-day prevalence of 68.5% (95%CI = 57.1-78.0). The most frequently reported body parts affected were low back (74%), neck (54.8%), wrist/hands (47.9%), and shoulders (56.2%). Despite the relatively high prevalence and discomfort levels of MSDs, apiarists reported minimal limitations to work which may reflect the attitude that MSDs are an accepted part of their role. Physical demands of the beekeeping role were reported by most apiarists as contributing to MSDs, with individual factors such as age being the second most cited contributor. Only 3% of the responses identified psychosocial factors associated with MSDs. High prevalence of MSDs among this sample of apiarists is similar to previous reports of MSD prevalence among non-commercial beekeepers in other overseas studies. Results indicate musculoskeletal discomfort among apiarists is commonplace and suggest apiarists are likely to be working while experiencing discomfort. This potentially could have long-term ramifications for apiarists' musculoskeletal health. This is a concern for sustainability of this essential industry.
This study explored commercial fishermen's perspectives and decision-making process related to investment in winch safety equipment for fishing vessels. The study employed semi-structured interviews during 2019-2021 with commercial fishing captains, owners, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers (n = 19) from two different commercial fisheries: the Pacific Northwest purse seine fleet, and the Southern shrimp fleet. Interview recordings were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed to identify themes related to adoption of winch safety gear. Overall, perception of risk from deck winches was high in both populations. Fishermen generally regarded safety engineering interventions for winches positively, in principle. However, cost, installation complexity, and competing safety priorities are often barriers to adopting such equipment. In discussing safety-related investments, fishermen commonly prioritized maintenance of the vessel and management of the crew over mechanical safety equipment for the deck winch, despite its potential for causing injury. We identified several potential facilitators of adoption of winch safety equipment, particularly for the Southern shrimp fleet. Fishermen tend to view deck winch safety as part of a larger, complex set of safety considerations encompassing the vessel and crew as a whole. This risk balancing sometimes does not favor investment in safety gear specifically for the deck winch, even if it is perceived as a primary hazard. Fundamental economic conditions in these two fisheries continue to pose a challenge to widespread adoption of winch safety equipment. Reducing cost barriers would potentially be the most effective way to increase adoption, but additional work is needed to improve risk communication, increase awareness of available winch safety equipment, and address installation complexity barriers.
Agricultural injuries are known to be under-reported in existing surveillance systems. The Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) codes are a standardized classification system developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) which ensures consistency in reporting and analysis of workplace incidents over time across industry sectors. Our study examines OIICS coded injuries obtained via mining emergency response (Pre-Hospital Care Report) records (PCRs) to improve tracking, documentation, and understanding of agricultural injury trends. We analyzed frequencies of OIICS subcodes for Primary Injury Source, Event/Exposure, Nature of Injury, and Body Part classifications for 1583 injuries among agricultural workers in Maine, spanning January 2008 to December 2022. To streamline the dataset and subsequent analysis, subcodes within each category were thematically grouped. We summarized and visualized grouped code frequencies by subject sex, age category, season of injury, and study subperiod. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in injury patterns by sex and age group. Reported injuries increased over time from 420 in 2008-2011 to 631 in 2019-2022. The most frequently reported classifications were: "Tractors/power take off (PTO)s" (Injury Source), "Fall" (Event), "Multiple parts" (Body Part), and "Pain" (Nature of Injury). A marked increase in "Nonclassifiable" Source subcodes and "Fall" Event subcodes was observed in 2019-2022 relative to earlier periods. Significant differences by sex were found for injury Event subcodes: The most frequent source of injuries for females were animals, versus objects and equipment being the most frequent source for males. Nature of Injury also varied significantly by sex. All four OIICS categories (Source, Event, Nature, Body Part) showed significant variation by age group. Older subjects reported more injuries due to falls and overexertion, while younger were more frequently subject to exposure, intentional self-injury, injury in fires, and injuries involving farm vehicles and equipment. Injury counts rose across each successive study period. All injury subcodes differed significantly by age category, while injury Event and Body Part codes also varied significantly by sex. This suggests that injury risks are not uniform across demographics, and tailored safety interventions by sex and age group may be more effective in reducing agricultural injuries.
Growing up on a farm presents a health paradox, with increased risks of injuries but some purported benefits. This study estimated differences in the burden of medical comorbidities between youth who live versus do not live on farms. No a priori hypotheses were tested. A phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) was used in a cohort of youth in north-central Wisconsin. Those who lived on farms were matched (1:3) to a non-farm comparison group. Outcomes included a comprehensive set of diagnoses (Phecodes) that occurred between 2017 and 2021. PheWAS analyses included logistic regression models of Phecode associations with farm residency. There were 36 Phecodes that significantly differentiated the two groups. Youth who lived on farms had significantly higher odds of agricultural injury, dermatophytosis, spinal neuritis, and strabismus compared to non-farm youth. Remaining Phecodes indicated protection in the farm group. Notably, relative to the non-farm group, farm youth had a 20%-30% lower odds of respiratory illnesses, as well as 30%-40% lower odds of mental health and neurological conditions. This was the first known study to utilize a PheWAS approach to comprehensively compare medical comorbidities in farm versus non-farm youth. Findings confirmed the known injury hazards in farm youth, but there appeared to be more health benefits of living on farms. Some of these apparent protections were novel, particularly those related to affective disorders, but require future confirmatory testing to understand how care seeking behaviors may also influence farm and non-farm households.
Agriculture must produce more food to meet the needs of a growing global population. However, farm injuries may hinder farmers' abilities to contribute to this goal. Due to the increasing incidence of injuries in the cocoa industry, this study aimed to investigate how farm injuries impact the household welfare of cocoa farmers. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to collect data from 400 cocoa farmers. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including means, percentages, standard deviations, frequencies and a multivariate probit (MVP). Out of 400 respondents, cocoa farmers stated that an average of 11 people were injured per season, and this led to a loss of about 57 working days. The most common injuries were cuts, waist pains, and insect bites. Results from the MVP analysis showed that farm injuries significantly affected farmers' food security, productivity, and income. The research points out that, as much as routine training is necessary, tool design, the implementation of work-rest patterns, and task change should be enhanced to reduce fatigue. Frequent utilization of personal safety gear is encouraged. The findings are significant in terms of policy and practice implications to minimize farm injuries, improve household welfare, and protect the contribution of cocoa farmers to the world food production.
Caregiving is a universal human experience with a wide range of consequences on caregivers' physical and mental health, social life, and economic well-being. Yet caregiving among the farming population has seldom been studied, even though this population might have greater needs for care due to the dangerous and physical nature of the work, aging of the population, and the role of childcare as a safety strategy. We drew on a publicly available survey of 704 farming caregivers in the U.S. Northeast and Midwest to answer four research questions: 1) Who are the caregivers? 2) What resources does caregiving require? 3) How does caregiving impact farming caregivers' finances and well-being? 4) What type of support do caregivers use and what support do they want? We conducted bivariate analysis to tease out similarities and differences based on the type of care provided: children, adults (with a disability and/or older), or both (i.e. children and adults). Almost two-thirds of respondents (60%) cared for both children and adults, while 22% cared only for children and 17% cared only for adults. Respondents are diverse - with a variety of caregiving responsibilities and demands on their time and finances. A majority of respondents reported a mix of both largely negative impacts on financial wellbeing and mostly positive and neutral impacts on mental, physical, and social wellbeing. Most respondents used social safety net programs and desired more caregiving support. Significant differences emerge when we compare different types of caregiving. Respondents caring for children and adults are more likely to have higher resource demands, negative financial impacts, and desires for support. Our findings reemphasize the importance of attending to the social and economic needs of farmers and farmworkers in research, outreach, and policy. This includes helping farming community navigate their caregiving responsibilities in a way that accounts for how their realities (e.g. needs of people they care for, self-employment status, immigration status, rurality of residence) shape their needs and ability to access help. Our findings also add to the growing scholarship challenging stereotypes that farming communities are socially tight-knit, self-sufficient, and do not want help.
Raised bed vegetable cultivation is widely practiced after paddy in the foothill and valley areas of Meghalaya, Northeast India. Traditionally, raised beds are prepared manually using spades, a process that is not only laborious and time-consuming but also poses considerable ergonomic risks. To address these issues, a study was conducted to evaluate risk factors, and to design, develop, and test a ridging attachment for power tillers that could be effectively used in the narrow terraces and small fields typical of hill farming systems. A case study was conducted in selected vegetable-growing areas of Meghalaya, Northeast India during the year 2023-2024. Field visits and observations documented current raised bed methods, while interviews and discussions with 64 farmers (40 male, 24 female) via semi-structured questionnaires identified existing tools, bed sizes, labor needs, and ergonomic issues in manual preparation. Ergonomic stress and strain were assessed using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and heart rate monitoring. Survey findings revealed nearly 84% of respondents experienced physical discomfort, with lower back pain being reported by about 80% of them. Physiological workload assessment placed manual bed preparation in the "very heavy" category. REBA analysis further indicated postures adopted during the task scored between 8 and 10 (Action Level 3) for over 70% of participants, signifying a high-risk activity requiring urgent intervention. In response, a ridging attachment was developed, aligning agronomic requirements with ergonomic considerations. Performance evaluation demonstrated significant benefits: a field capacity of 0.103 ha/h (around 20 times higher than manual preparation), a 92% reduction in labor demand, and a 95% savings in time. Fuel use and draft forces remained within acceptable ranges. Economic analysis indicated about 76% reduction in costs, with a payback period of less than two crop cycles. Overall, the developed ridging attachment proved to be a cost-effective, farmer-friendly technology that not only minimizes drudgery but also enhances efficiency in raised bed vegetable cultivation. This innovation contributes to context-specific mechanization strategies and supports sustainable intensification of smallholder farming in the hill regions of Northeast India.
In 2022, the USDA Agricultural Census recognized that over one-third of agricultural producers in the United States were female. However, information on the health and safety needs of women working in agriculture is lacking. To help guide the direction of further research to understand the needs of women in agriculture, a brief survey was administered at a conference for agricultural women in the Midwest US. The goal was to understand the priority concerns and whether the concerns differed by age group or by occupational role. The survey was conducted in person with women attending a Women in Ag Conference in 2024. Participants were asked their age in six categories, whether they were directly involved in agriculture, and how concerned they were about nine health and safety topics using a 5-point Likert scale. Occupational role was determined by classifying the self-reported job description into five categories, academic/professional, academic/professional and agricultural operator, crop producer, livestock producer, and crop and livestock producer (n = 111). Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe the age distribution, occupational roles, and differences in concerns. Correspondence analysis was used to analyze and visualize frequency tables. Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests, and logistic regression were used to explore differences. Injuries and respiratory exposures significantly differed between women who were both academic/professionals and agricultural operators and those who were only academic/professional. Academics were similar to crop producers, livestock producers were different from all others, and those who were both crop and livestock producers fell between the two. Fewer differences were seen among the age groups. Younger women were most concerned about reproductive health and older women more concerned about mental health and musculoskeletal disorders. Concerns differed by occupational role and less by age group. Although injuries were of concern for women working in an academic/professional role, they were not a major concern when women also worked a farm or ranch. It is unclear why this might be and further studies need to be conducted to ascertain if these differences can be replicated.
Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States, especially for children. Despite considerable efforts to develop and implement interventions that protect children, the burden of agricultural injury and disease remains a stubborn and multifaceted public health concern. This study examined the effects of repeated exposure to agricultural injury news on farm parents' risk perception and behavioral intentions for farm safety practices. The study also examined the roles of existing self- and response-efficacy in the effect of agricultural injury news consumption on behavioral intention. In 2021 and 2022, the study team conducted a field experiment where farm parents were randomly assigned to an intervention group (reading weekly child agricultural injury news articles for 4 weeks) and a control group (reading weekly non-injury "farm life" articles for 4 weeks). Participants completed online pre- and post-test surveys before and after intervention. The PROCESS model was employed to test research hypotheses, and 162 participants were included in the analyses. The results showed that repeated exposure to agricultural injury news increased farm parents' perceived severity of agricultural incidents; in turn, perceived severity enhanced their behavioral intention to adopt agricultural safety practices. The partial moderated mediation analysis shows that the indirect effect of perceived severity between repeated news exposure and behavioral intention to adopt farm safety practices were not dependent on farm parents' levels of self- and response-efficacy. These results imply that agricultural injury news consumption could be a viable intervention to reduce U.S. childhood agricultural injury and fatality. Findings may also lead to additional lines of research, including similar testing with different groups of agricultural stakeholders, expansion to adults, and safety intervention research for other industries.
Agriculture provides livelihoods and generates millions of jobs for farmers in tropical sub-Saharan settings. Outdoor farmers, however, are vulnerable to health risks from excess exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and associated factors of sun safety among farmers of the Amaegbu community in Ede-Oballa, Nsukka local government of Enugu State, Southeastern Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design and a purposive sampling technique were employed to select 155 crop farmers living in the study setting. The sample comprised commercial and subsistence (part-time) farmers who cultivate crops either as a primary or supplementary occupation. Data were collected using structured researcher's questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient of 0.926 Croncbach's alpha analysis of data was achieved using descriptive and inferential statistics aided by SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel. Majority (89.7%) of the respondents had good knowledge of sun safety. More than half (52.3%, n = 81) had poor practice of sun safety. The overall practice mean score was 2.32 ± 0.75 There was no significant association between the sociodemographic factors of age and gender of farmers and the practice of sun safety (p = .368; p = 086). Sun safety knowledge was also not significantly associated with practice (p = .472). Only educational level was significantly associated with farmers' practice of sun safety (p = .004). Despite having good knowledge of sun safety, farmers followed poor sun safety practices. It is recommended that farmers should be encouraged to protect themselves from sun radiation to prevent health hazards. Factors responsible for the poor practice revealed in this study despite a good knowledge should be further evaluated.
Immigrant workers constitute a major portion of farmworkers in the United States, and their number has been gradually increasing over the years. These workers are among the most vulnerable to occupational injury and illness because of constraints in communication, lack of medical insurance, cultural beliefs, and discriminatory practices. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (Ag Centers) were established with the aim of reducing injuries and illnesses in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AgFF) sectors through research, education, and prevention projects. Diversity of populations served by these Ag Centers is identified as a challenge for assessing the impact of the centers. Employing sensitive lenses like culturally responsive evaluation (CRE) is critical in the evaluation of Ag Centers, because it captures cultural nuances that might have affected the implementation and/or outcome of the project. We conducted a scoping review of the literature in CRE to identify practical strategies for CRE implementation. We categorized the findings into four deductively formed groups about cultural competence: acknowledge the complexity of cultural identity, recognize the dynamics of power, recognize and eliminate bias in language, and employ culturally appropriate methods.
Agricultural workers endure physically demanding, high heat work daily, increasing the risk of kidney injury and reduced kidney function. However, few studies have examined individual measures of heat exposure and risk of kidney injury and impaired function. We assessed the association between measures of heat exposure with acute kidney injury and kidney functioning among agricultural workers, compared to a group of office workers in the same region. We recruited 77 adult males working in agriculture and 21 adult males in office jobs in Sonora, Mexico in 2019. We administered a demographic questionnaire to participants. A proxy physiological strain index (PSI), based on point measurements of heart rate and tympanic temperature, was used to estimate individual heat exposure. Kidney function was measured using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Kidney injury was assessed via urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL). We compared uNGAL and eGFR over time in the two study groups. We assessed proxy PSI associations with uNGAL and eGFR using linear mixed-effects models, adjusting for age, body mass index, and urinary specific gravity factor. We observed statistically significant differences between agricultural and office workers for eGFR (GM: 121.85 vs. 115.66 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = .04). Among agricultural workers, creatinine-adjusted uNGAL levels rose in summer compared to spring (GM: 4.47 vs. 1.98 mg/g creatinine, p < .01), and eGFR declined during the same period GM:(108.41 vs. 122.38 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < .01). In mixed models, proxy PSI was inversely associated with eGFR (β-coefficient:-2.87, 95% CI: -4.02, -1.72). Season and proxy PSI predicted kidney functioning in agricultural workers in this study. As climate warming continues, high-risk occupational groups such as agricultural workers will face increasing heat-related health risks.
Toxicity color codes on pesticide containers communicate the risk between manufacturers and farmers; however, their effectiveness in developing countries, like Nepal, remains understudied. This study thus aimed to identify factors influencing farmers' understanding and their correct interpretation of the toxicity color codes. Survey data from 270 households in Kavrepalanchok district, Nepal, was used, where respondents were primary pesticide applicators. Probit regression was run separately to identify the factors influencing (1) the understanding of the meaning of toxicity color codes for the whole sample and (2) correct interpretation of the least toxic color code as green for the sub-sample who responded "YES" to the first question. Finally, ordered probit regression identified factors influencing (3) toxicity color code literacy: illiteracy, partial literacy, or full literacy. Of the total respondents, only 49% stated they understood the meaning of toxicity color codes, yet only half of them correctly interpreted the least toxic color code as green. Farmers' understanding was significantly influenced by location, higher education, when males purchase pesticides, participation in integrated pest management-farmer's field school training, and prior experience of health effects associated with pesticide use (p < .05). All these factors also significantly influenced toxicity color code literacy. However, females (p = .023) and educated farmers (p = .005) correctly interpreted the least toxic color code as green, highlighting the need for inclusive education-based interventions in risk communication. The results show a distinction between self-reported farmers' understanding of toxicity color codes on pesticide containers and their correct interpretation. We suggest that risk communication interventions be redesigned to improve visual literacy and that gender-sensitive training be included to enhance literacy.
This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, preventive practices, and perceived difficulties of adolescent children of seasonal agricultural worker families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional study was carried out with 366 adolescents. After obtaining the necessary permissions, the data were collected with questionnaires prepared by the researchers and a perceived healthy lifestyle difficulty scale (score range 10-and-50). Descriptive statistical analyses and regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. The majority of the participants knew the transmission route and symptoms of the COVID-19 disease. Only 17.8% of adolescents were paying attention to the social distancing rule, and the majority of adolescents didn't wear masks in the settlements. In this sample, 41.3% of adolescents were washing their hands on average twice a day. Adolescents perceived difficulties regarding personal hygiene, accessing protective equipment, information sources, and health services. The adolescents scored low (20.45 ± 2.62) on perceived healthy lifestyle difficulty scale which is associated with to the increased perceived difficulty in a healthy lifestyle. Although adolescents had knowledge regarding COVID-19 disease, their rate of performing the preventive measures was low. Specific action plans, guidelines, and policies should be developed and implemented to enhance reported health-related behaviors and mitigate the spread of infection, particularly among disadvantaged adolescents.