Benefits, Facilitators, Barriers, and Strategies to Improve Pesticide Protective Behaviors: Insights from Farmworkers in North Carolina Tobacco Fields

AnnMarie Lee Walton, Catherine E. LePrevost, Laura Linnan, Ana Sanchez-Birkhead and Kathi Mooney
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AnnMarie Lee Walton: School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Catherine E. LePrevost: Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Laura Linnan: Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Ana Sanchez-Birkhead: College of Nursing, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
Kathi Mooney: College of Nursing, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Pesticide exposure is associated with deleterious health effects. Prior studies suggest Latino farmworkers perceive little control over their occupational health. Using the Health Belief Model as a theoretical guide, we explored the perceptions of Latino farmworkers working in tobacco in North Carolina ( n = 72) about benefits and facilitators of pesticide protective behaviors as well as barriers, and strategies to overcome barriers to their use. Interviews were conducted with participants at farmworker housing during non-work time. Qualitative data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti. Farmworkers recognized pesticide protective behaviors as helping them to not get sick and stay healthy. Farmworkers perceived work experience as facilitating protective behaviors. Wetness in the field was the most commonly cited barrier to protective behavior use. To overcome this barrier, farmworkers suggested use of water-resistant outerwear, as well as packing a change of clothes for mid-day, with space and time to change provided by employers. Examination of the efficacy and feasibility of farmworkers’ suggestions for addressing barriers is warranted. Training and behavior modeling by experienced peers may improve behavior adoption and perceived control.

Keywords: pesticide protective behaviors; Latino migrant and seasonal farmworkers; benefits of protective behavior; facilitators of protective behavior; barriers to protective behavior; strategies to improve protective behavior; tobacco (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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