Respiratory Health and Suspected Asthma among Hired Latinx Child Farmworkers in Rural North Carolina.
Gregory D KearneyThomas A ArcurySara A QuandtJennifer W TaltonTaylor J ArnoldJoanne C SandbergMelinda F WigginsStephanie S DanielPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2020)
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.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- mental health
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- lung function
- public health
- allergic rhinitis
- pulmonary embolism
- primary care
- young adults
- health information
- respiratory tract
- south africa
- risk assessment
- climate change
- health promotion
- tertiary care
- social media
- health insurance
- clinical practice
- human health