Respiratory Health and Suspected Asthma among Hired Latinx Child Farmworkers in Rural North Carolina

Gregory D. Kearney, Thomas A. Arcury, Sara A. Quandt, Jennifer W. Talton, Taylor J. Arnold, Joanne C. Sandberg, Melinda F. Wiggins and Stephanie S. Daniel
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Gregory D. Kearney: Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Thomas A. Arcury: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Sara A. Quandt: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Jennifer W. Talton: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Taylor J. Arnold: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Joanne C. Sandberg: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Melinda F. Wiggins: Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham, NC 27705, USA
Stephanie S. Daniel: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate respiratory health problems, including suspected asthma, and healthcare provider utilization among a sample of Latinx hired child farmworkers in rural North Carolina (n = 140). In 2018, a respiratory health questionnaire and breathing tests were collected from Latinx child (11–19 years) farmworkers (35.0% girls and 65.0% boys). Overall, 21.4% of children reported having been told by a medical provider that they had asthma, yet based on a combination of responses to respiratory survey questions, 36.4% or 15% more were identified as having suspected asthma. While 56.4% reported having a regular medical doctor, 38% had not had a medical exam in the past year. Respiratory dysfunction, including suspected, or uncontrolled asthma was prevalent among this group. Latinx children working in agriculture are vulnerable to occupational hazards and exposures and require assurances that they will receive access to high quality healthcare services that include routine respiratory health screenings.

Keywords: children; Hispanic; occupational; health disparities; spirometry; nitric oxide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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