Occupational Risky Business: Injury Prevention Behaviors of Farm Women and Children

Abstract

On farms in the United States, there are approximately 100 fatal and 32,800 nonfatal injuries annually in children 19 years and younger (United States Department of Labor, 1999). Up to 40% of nonfatally injured children are left with permanent disabilities. The impact of injury and death on children associated with farming in the United States is substantial. Research suggests that modeling of health behaviors may be an effective technique for the socialization of children's health behaviors. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, the study describes the participation and use of protective farm equipment or practices by the caregiver and the child. The second purpose is to compare the practices of the caregivers and the children in relation to the use of protective farm equipment and practices. Descriptive and categorical data analysis methods were used to examine the associations of 177 pairs of caregivers and children and their use of protective equipment and preventative behaviors. Greater than 50% of the children under the age of 7 had handled or touched livestock, as well as rode as passengers on tractors. Many children in all age categories had ridden in the back of pick-up trucks. Modeling of the prevention behavior by the caregivers did parallel the use of the equipment by the children. However, the opposite also was true; if the caregiver did not use the equipment, neither did the child.

Changing a Dangerous Rural Cultural Tradition: A Randomized Control Study of Youth as Extra Riders on Tractors

“…This study focused on youth aged 10‐19. Children begin being extra riders on tractors at younger ages than the youth who participated in this research . The youth targeted in the study were the children most involved in farm work.…”

“…Sharing tractor work with children is often viewed as a “cherished enculturation practice” and an important rural tradition . Children often begin riding on tractors as toddlers or preschoolers . One study found that over half of farm children aged 3 months to 2 years had been an extra rider on a tractor .…”

“…2,10,11 Children often begin riding on tractors as toddlers or preschoolers. 12,13 One study found that over half of farm children aged 3 months to 2 years had been an extra rider on a tractor. 13 Rates of extra riding remain high across childhood and adolescence.…”

Farm and rural adolescents′ perspective on hearing conservation: Reports from a focus group study

“…[9151617] However due to the exception of most farms to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, farmers and farm youth are rarely served by an OSHA-mandated hearing conservation program. [1819] Tests of educational programs to promote hearing protector use among small groups of farm[16] and non-farm youth have demonstrated short-term[7] and long-term increases in hearing protector use or intention. [20212223]…”

Strategies to enhance participant recruitment and retention in research involving a community-based population

“…Farmers experience frequent exposure to high noise and have among the highest prevalence rates of hearing loss among all categories of workers (Tak & Calvert, 2008). Despite their risks, farmers are rarely served by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-mandated hearing conservation program (OSHA, 1997; Pryor, Carruth, & LaCour, 2005). Farmers are commonly exposed to hazardous farm noise from an early age, and have frequent exposure to recreational noise, such as ATVs and firearms (Marlenga et al, 2012).…”