CHILDHOOD AGRICULTURAL INJURY PREVENTION INITIATIVE

Risk Factors for Injury Among Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Children

Project Title: Risk Factors for Injury Among Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Children

Principal Investigator: Harlan E. Amandus, Ph.D.

Affiliation: Battelle Memorial Institute

City & State: Arlington, Virginia

Grant Number: 1 R01 CCR014314-01

Start & End Dates: 09/30/97 - 09/29/00

Abstract:

Injury rates among farm children are very high, and there is some evidence to suggest that migrant farm children may even have higher injury rates. Because there is little published information on the prevalence of injuries and on injury risk factors among migrant farm worker children, there is a need to collect such information for government agencies and injury practitioners to develop policies and prevention programs.

The goal of the proposed research is two fold. First, the research will estimate the prevalence of injuries among a multistate sample of 5,050 children of migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFW). Second, the research will evaluate risk factors for injury including exposure to hazardous agricultural activities, and physical, cognitive, and behavioral risk actors that are potentially related to injury.

These goals are feasible through access to children of MSFWs whose parents are enrolled in the Job Training and Partnership Act job training and emergency support services program (JTPA). The JTPA program is administered by members of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) through a network of 450 local offices in 48 states and Puerto Rico. The AFOP network is unique as it is the only such network with daily access to the population of MSFWs who are employed in the field crops, livestock, forestry, and fish farming industries. Battelle will couple the strengths of its scientific expertise and public health research capability and experience with AFOP’s capability to enroll and survey MSFWs.

The results of this research will identify populations of migrant and seasonal farmworker children that are at high risk of injury. It will also identify key risk factors that may be modified by intervention to reduce injuries. The study results will provide NIOSH and other agencies information to make recommendations and policy, and to direct future research into interventions development and evaluation.