COVID-19 Pandemic among Latinx Farmworker and Nonfarmworker Families in North Carolina: Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Preventive Behaviors

Sara A. Quandt, Natalie J. LaMonto, Dana C. Mora, Jennifer W. Talton, Paul J. Laurienti and Thomas A. Arcury
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Sara A. Quandt: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Natalie J. LaMonto: Department of Anthropology, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI 54911, USA
Dana C. Mora: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Jennifer W. Talton: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Paul J. Laurienti: Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Thomas A. Arcury: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: (1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses substantial threats to Latinx farmworkers and other immigrants in food production and processing. Classified as essential, such workers cannot shelter at home. Therefore, knowledge and preventive behaviors are important to reduce COVID-19 spread in the community. (2) Methods: Respondents for 67 families with at least one farmworker (FWF) and 38 comparable families with no farmworkers (nonFWF) in North Carolina completed a telephone survey in May 2020. The survey queried knowledge of COVID-19, perceptions of its severity, self-efficacy, and preventive behaviors. Detailed data were collected to document household members’ social interaction and use of face coverings. (3) Results: Knowledge of COVID-19 and prevention methods was high in both groups, as was its perceived severity. NonFWF had higher self-efficacy for preventing infection. Both groups claimed to practice preventive behaviors, though FWF emphasized social avoidance and nonFWF emphasized personal hygiene. Detailed social interactions showed high rates of inter-personal contact at home, at work, and in the community with more mask use in nonFWF than FWF. (4) Conclusions: Despite high levels of knowledge and perceived severity for COVID-19, these immigrant families were engaged in frequent interpersonal contact that could expose community members and themselves to COVID-19.

Keywords: coronavirus; agricultural workers; health behavior model; structural vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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