North Carolina Hispanic Farmworkers and Intestinal Parasitism: A Pilot Study of Prevalence and Health-Related Practices, and Potential Means of Foodborne Transmission

Abstract

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers provide much of the necessary labor to harvest and process agricultural commodities desired by consumers. Little is known about the health status (especially the parasitic burden) of farm laborers, who handpick agricultural items such as fruits and vegetables, despite being implicated as a means of foodborne pathogen transmission. The goal of this research was to develop a framework to investigate enteric parasitic infections among Hispanic farmworkers in Eastern North Carolina. Seventy-one interviews were conducted, 16 stool samples were collected, and two parasite-positive workers were found. In addition, some potentially harmful health practices (e.g., self-medication) were identified. Further research is necessary to fully understand the scope of farmworker health issues and the potential risk of disseminating foodborne pathogens to humans. The study model presented provides a geographically expandable format to allow for various types of health investigations including the prevalence of other pathogens.

Cooking and Eating Facilities in Migrant Farmworker Housing in North Carolina

“…Specific analyses relevant to these findings have been published elsewhere. 32 Literature documenting enteric disease in farmworkers dates from the 1970s to the present, 19,33–37 with both tap water and water in the fields implicated, and suggestions that malfunctioning sewerage systems may play a role in the contamination. Although water in farmworker housing is tested as part of pre-occupancy inspection, a higher level of contamination is likely later in the season when sewerage systems may be overloaded due to camp overcrowding.…”

Farmworker Housing in the United States and Its Impact on Health

“…Many farmworkers experience inadequate field sanitation conditions, 59 and some come to the United States with a history of intestinal parasites. [60][61][62] General issues with sanitation in housing, such as cockroach and rodent infestation, difficulties in keeping older crowded housing clean, and inadequate trash removal, also increase the likelihood that housing will be unsanitary. Overall, greater compliance with sanitation regulations is found in housing for workers with H-2A visas 29 and in housing with some evidence of inspection by a government agency.…”

“…In one study of twenty-five farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina, 7% had latrines and 7% had portable bathrooms. 60 Lack of dividers between toilets and showers can effectively reduce the number of units available, as workers wait to use facilities alone. Arcury et al 24 found such privacy concerns in over 42% of camps evaluated in North Carolina.…”

Collecting Comparative Data on Farmworker Housing and Health

“…Several components of physical and mental health among farmworker family members are particularly related to their housing conditions. 81 These include respiratory health, 82,83 dermatological health, 84,85 injuries and trauma; infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV, 86 parasites, 87 the neurobehavioral development of children, 88 and sleep quality. 89 Components of mental health affected by housing conditions include stress, anxiety, depression, and alcohol dependence 39,90 as well as interpersonal conflict, domestic violence, and sexual assault.…”