Thesis (MTech (Environmental Health))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2003 / Recent studies have reported an increased prevalence (19%) of respiratory symptoms among furm workers exposed to pesticides. International studies suggest excessive pesticide use and biological factors such as outdoor mites as important factors responsible for asthma symptoms. Studies in Korea suggest that spider mites may be responsible for allergic asthma symptoms among workers on fruit (citrus, apple, and . pear) furms. The fuming of wine and table grapes in South Africa involves about 3000 farms employing over 50,000 workers. Workers on table grape farms, in contrast to other fruit farms have not been previously investigated for occupational respiratory allergy to spider mites. Objectives • To determine the spectrum and prevalence of work-related allergy and asthma among table grape farm workers • To determine the environmental and host factors associated with work-related symptoms and allergic outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 207 workers employed on nine table grape farms in the Hex River valley of South Africa. A modified European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire was used to interview workers. Skin prick tests used 8 commercial extracts of common airborne allergens (ALK) and potential occupational allergens, which included grape mould (Botrytis cinerea) and an in-house extract of spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. Specific IgE to Tetranychus urticae was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus) and storage mite (Lepidoglyphus Destructor) using Pharrnacia CAPRAST. Results: The mean age of the workers was 36 years with a standard deviation of 11 years.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-115).

Unknown questions remain concerning the health of migrant farm workers, seasonal farm workers, and other rural poor people. The objectives of this study were to determine the demographic profile of a sample from a Community and Migrant Health Center; to determine the prevalence of disease in migrant farm workers, seasonal farm workers and other clients; and to determine if differences existed in the prevalence of disease between the three occupational groups. Information from medical records for clients who visited an Oregon Community and Migrant Health Center during 1993 was abstracted to determine whether differences existed in demographic characteristics and in health status between migrant farm workers, seasonal farm workers, and other clients. A random sample of 600 medical charts was selected from the three occupational groups stratified by sex. The sample included adults and children classified as migrant or seasonal farm workers and other clients. Data abstracted from charts included socio-demographic information, physiologic measurements, biochemical testing results, and disease prevalence. Clients in this sample represented Latino (85.17%), Russian (4.8%), and Anglo (10%) cultures. Female clients who were not migrant or seasonal farm workers had a mean age of 27.42 years which was significantly different from the mean age of female migrant farm workers of 18.95 years, and of female seasonal farm workers of 20.35 years. Females who were not migrant or seasonal farm workers had significantly higher mean body mass indexes, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Female children classified as migrant farm worker had significantly higher blood lead levels than female children whose parents were not migrant or seasonal farm workers. Glucose levels for migrant farm workers was significantly higher than either of the other two occupational groups. Findings of the study indicated that common diagnoses included upper respiratory infection, otitis media, intestinal parasites or pathogens, dermatitis, and urinary tract infection. The most commonly reported injuries were due to lacerations and motor vehicle accidents. Additionally, 31.57% of PAP tests were abnormal, and violence against girls and women was reported. Diagnoses of chronic diseases included diabetes, hypertension, AIDS, cancer, and heart disease. / Graduation date: 1996

The purpose of this study was to describe, explicate, and systematically analyze the culture care values, beliefs, and practices of migrant farm workers related to health promoting behaviors in context of their temporary living accommodations and work setting in two small towns in east central Indiana. The goal of this study was to generate knowledge regarding culture care values, beliefs, and practices of migrant farm workers related to health promoting behaviors. Such knowledge can be used by nurses to provide culturally congruent care which can influence migrant farm workers' health and well-being.The theoretical framework for the study was Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. The qualitative ethnonursing research method was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using both an ethnonursing inquiry guide and an ethno-demographic information guide developed by the researcher.Sixteen key informants and three general informants participated in the study. Informants were purposefully selected for knowledge of migrant farm life and willingness to share this knowledge with the researcher. Key informants were Mexican American migrant farm workers in east central Indiana for farm and tomato factory work from July through October, 2004. General informants were health and social service workers who provided care for the migrant farm workers. Three key informants were interviewed twice each. All other informants were interviewed once. Interviews took place in the informants' homes and at a local food pantry. Interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim.Four major themes were synthesized from the research data: (a) health promoting behaviors are recognized and valued by migrant farm workers but are influenced by economic and political/legal factors in the social structure; (b) traditional gender roles of migrant farm worker men and women influence health promoting behaviors; (c) professional caring is viewed by migrant farm workers as respect through the use of the Spanish language and acceptance of culture care values, beliefs, and practices; and (d) health promoting behavior of migrant farm workers is influenced both by traditional culture care values and beliefs and by knowledge acquired through diverse formal and informal education. Findings were discussed in relation to Leininger's three modes of culture care action for nurses: culture care preservation/maintenance, accommodation/negotiation, and repatterning/restructuring. / Department of Educational Studies

Thesis (Masters Diploma (Technology)--Cape Technikon, Cape Town,1994 / Pesticides are generally used in south-Africa for the control of various pests; from insects and fungi to weeds. The agricultural industry is probably the biggest user of pesticides and therefore workers in this part of the labour force have the biggest risk of being exposed to the hazards of these essential products. During the 1988/89 deciduous fruit season the deciduous fruit industry earned approximately R1000 million in foreign exchange. It is therefore very important for this industry to produce fruit of high quality in a very competitive market. Of the total deciduous exports, apples comprised approximately 62,5%. The EIgin-Grabouw area is the biggest producer of apples. This industry is clearly very dependant on pesticides to protect its crops against pests. From time to time farm - workers are exposed to pesticides, a study was therefore performed to access the levels of exposure of farm workers. Blood and urine samples were collected in a comprehensive biological monitoring program in the Elgin area to determine, uusing clinical tests, the level of exposure to pesticides. It was decided later that the determination of pesticide residues in blood would form part of this main study. Other tests included serum and red cell cholinesterase. Samples were collected during August (start of spraying season), November (midseason) and February (end of spraying season). A multi-residue method was developed to extract organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides in whole blood. Although various methods exist, they allow only for the extraction of either organophosphates or organochlorines and not multi-residue extractions. This multi-residue method is based on the liquid/liquid extraction of a blood/Celite/ethanol mixture to extract the following pesticides: Azinphos-methyl, Chlorpyrifos, Endosulfan, Methidathion and Prothiophos. The pesticide residue levels were determined on gas chromatographs equipped with DB-5 and DB-2I0 capillary columns and flame photometric-, electron capture- and nitrogen/phosphorous detectors. The results were confirmed on a gas chromatograph with mass-selective detector in selective ion mode. Of the 402 blood samples analysed, 23 samples showed positive for organophoshates and 29 for organochlorines, and were sent for analysis on the mass spectrometer. Of those samples only one could be positively identified. The presence of the pesticide Endosulfan-B was confirmed. The confirmation of the pesticides was complicated by interfering substances that leached from the rubber stoppers of the collection vessels into the blood. Although the study showed that for practical purposes no pesticides were present, other important information was obtained about the handling and analyses of blood samples for pesticides.

Cohort study found that being insured and having longer exposure of health insurance significantly increased migrant workers' likelihood to use professional healthcare in Shenzhen, decreased their total occasions of professional healthcare utilisation, and were causally associated with a decrease in professional healthcare expenditures which were paid out-of-pocket in the 6 months of follow-up by migrant workers. / Internal migration has become a more and more prominent societal and economic phenomenon in mainland China and Shenzhen is one of the most frequently selected locales for rural-urban migrants. This thesis aims 1) to assess health status and to describe patterns of healthcare utilisation amongst migrant factory workers, 2) to follow up the sample over 6 months to understand the impact of health insurance participation on health service utilisation and health expenditures, and 3) to assess the implications for health policies. / Our results suggest that health strategies should take into consideration the specific health needs of the highly mobile factory migrant workers. Through insurance coverage, local health authorities may be able to help improve rural-urban migrant workers' health by improving services at community level, and incorporating psychological care in the services provided by Community Health Centres. / Questionnaire surveys were used in a representative sample from factory workers in Shenzhen. The baseline and follow-up studies were conducted during April to December 2009 in Shenzhen, China. / Results show that migrant factory workers in Shenzhen represent a broad combination of geographic complexity and have special socio-demographic characteristics. The results have specified some association between self-rated health and SES, and major correlates of depressive symptoms amongst migrant factory workers. The seroprevalence of antibodies to rubella amongst female migrant workers is too low to provide immunity in the population. Sex, age, education, sleeping hours and internet use were associated with being a current smoker. The crude two-week illness rate was 21.6%. More than half and 11.6% of sick migrant workers chose self-treatment or neglected their sickness, respectively. Self-perception of disease being not severe, lack of time and economic difficulties were the major explanations for not utilizing professional care. / Mou, Jin. / Adviser: Sian Meryl Griffiths. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 253-270). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographies. / by Sonia Sylvia Jasso. / M.C.P.

Os acidentes de trabalho constituem-se em um grave problema de saúde pública. O Brasil já foi considerado campeão mundial em acidentes de trabalho e sua incidência ainda é muito elevada no país, acarretando profundos impactos físicos e psicológicos na vida dos trabalhadores. Em decorrência da modernização tecnológica, intensificada nas últimas décadas, o processo de trabalho no meio rural brasileiro passou por profundas transformações que afetaram as condições de trabalho e deixaram os trabalhadores mais suscetíveis à ocorrência de acidentes e a diferentes agravos à saúde. A exposição a agrotóxicos, as novas práticas de queima da cana e o manuseio de máquinas e instrumentos de trabalho em um contexto de intensificação do trabalho exemplificam esta situação. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de conhecer em que circunstâncias ocorreram os acidentes de trabalho envolvendo trabalhadores da agroindústria canavieira da região de Araraquara (SP) e suas consequências para os trabalhadores. A pesquisa foi realizada em duas etapas: na primeira, levantaram-se os acidentes ocorridos com trabalhadores rurais no período de 2010 a 2012. Nesta etapa, os dados foram levantados nos Relatórios de Atendimento ao Acidentado do Trabalho (RAAT), disponíveis no Centro de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador (CEREST) de Araraquara, e teve por finalidade traçar um perfil dos acidentes e dos acidentados e selecionar, dentre as vítimas, as que seriam entrevistadas. Na segunda etapa, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 14 trabalhadores acidentados e com a gestora do CEREST. O cruzamento dos dados obtidos nos documentos consultados e nas entrevistas com os trabalhadores apontam para uma série de fatores que contribuem para a ocorrência dos acidentes, tais como o ritmo intenso de trabalho, as jornadas de trabalho prolongadas, os instrumentos de trabalho inadequados, a falta de equipamentos de proteção, a exposição a agrotóxicos, ao ruído, ao sol, a chuva e presença de animais peçonhentos, fatores estes que estão relacionados às condições e organização do trabalho. Além de o trabalho rural provocar danos físicos, também pode deixar marcas por meio do sofrimento psíquico, através das exigências da organização do trabalho. / Labor accidents are a serious public health problem. Brazil was once considered the worlds worst country regarding labor accidents and the countrys situation hasnt improved much since then, resulting in severe physical and psychological impacts on the laborers lives. As a result of the technological modernization which took place on the last decades, the work process in Brazils rural area has suffered deep transformations. These transformations have affected working conditions and have left laborers more exposed to accidents and dangers to their health. Exposure to agro-toxic material, the new sugar cane burning practices, and operation of machines and working tools under intense working hours are just some examples of the current situation. The purpose of this research was to understand the circumstances which lead to accidents with employees of the sugar cane agroindustry of Araraquara, a countryside municipality in São Paulo State, and the physical and psychological consequences of such occurrences. The purpose of this study was to understand the circumstances under which the accidents involving laborers of the sugar plant agribusiness in Araraquaras region occurred and the consequences these accidents inflicted upon laborers. The research was conducted through two phases. First, accidents which took place in this area between 2010 and 2012 were surveyed through the Occupational Accident Attendance Report, available on the Center of Reference on Workers Health (CEREST) in Araraquara. The purpose of this first phase was to establish the kinds of accidents occurred and their severity, and also come up with a profile of the laborers involved in these accidents in order to select 14 of them for the interviews which would be conducted during the following phase. On the second phase, the selected 14 injured workers were interviewed and also an interview was conducted with the manager of the Center of Reference on Workers Health (CEREST). Data crossing the information acquired from the Occupational Accident Attendance Reports and the insight obtained through the interviewshave indicated a series of contributing factors generating these labor accidents. Among these factors are intensification of work pace; increased labor hours; the use of inadequate working tools; lack of personal protective equipment; exposure to agro-toxic materials; exposure to solar radiation, noise and rain and the presence of venomous animals in their labor locations. All these factors are intertwined to their labor conditions and organization. Despite the physical damages caused by these accidents they also incur psychological suffering through the demands of labor organization.

Os acidentes de trabalho constituem-se em um grave problema de saúde pública. O Brasil já foi considerado campeão mundial em acidentes de trabalho e sua incidência ainda é muito elevada no país, acarretando profundos impactos físicos e psicológicos na vida dos trabalhadores. Em decorrência da modernização tecnológica, intensificada nas últimas décadas, o processo de trabalho no meio rural brasileiro passou por profundas transformações que afetaram as condições de trabalho e deixaram os trabalhadores mais suscetíveis à ocorrência de acidentes e a diferentes agravos à saúde. A exposição a agrotóxicos, as novas práticas de queima da cana e o manuseio de máquinas e instrumentos de trabalho em um contexto de intensificação do trabalho exemplificam esta situação. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de conhecer em que circunstâncias ocorreram os acidentes de trabalho envolvendo trabalhadores da agroindústria canavieira da região de Araraquara (SP) e suas consequências para os trabalhadores. A pesquisa foi realizada em duas etapas: na primeira, levantaram-se os acidentes ocorridos com trabalhadores rurais no período de 2010 a 2012. Nesta etapa, os dados foram levantados nos Relatórios de Atendimento ao Acidentado do Trabalho (RAAT), disponíveis no Centro de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador (CEREST) de Araraquara, e teve por finalidade traçar um perfil dos acidentes e dos acidentados e selecionar, dentre as vítimas, as que seriam entrevistadas. Na segunda etapa, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 14 trabalhadores acidentados e com a gestora do CEREST. O cruzamento dos dados obtidos nos documentos consultados e nas entrevistas com os trabalhadores apontam para uma série de fatores que contribuem para a ocorrência dos acidentes, tais como o ritmo intenso de trabalho, as jornadas de trabalho prolongadas, os instrumentos de trabalho inadequados, a falta de equipamentos de proteção, a exposição a agrotóxicos, ao ruído, ao sol, a chuva e presença de animais peçonhentos, fatores estes que estão relacionados às condições e organização do trabalho. Além de o trabalho rural provocar danos físicos, também pode deixar marcas por meio do sofrimento psíquico, através das exigências da organização do trabalho. / Labor accidents are a serious public health problem. Brazil was once considered the worlds worst country regarding labor accidents and the countrys situation hasnt improved much since then, resulting in severe physical and psychological impacts on the laborers lives. As a result of the technological modernization which took place on the last decades, the work process in Brazils rural area has suffered deep transformations. These transformations have affected working conditions and have left laborers more exposed to accidents and dangers to their health. Exposure to agro-toxic material, the new sugar cane burning practices, and operation of machines and working tools under intense working hours are just some examples of the current situation. The purpose of this research was to understand the circumstances which lead to accidents with employees of the sugar cane agroindustry of Araraquara, a countryside municipality in São Paulo State, and the physical and psychological consequences of such occurrences. The purpose of this study was to understand the circumstances under which the accidents involving laborers of the sugar plant agribusiness in Araraquaras region occurred and the consequences these accidents inflicted upon laborers. The research was conducted through two phases. First, accidents which took place in this area between 2010 and 2012 were surveyed through the Occupational Accident Attendance Report, available on the Center of Reference on Workers Health (CEREST) in Araraquara. The purpose of this first phase was to establish the kinds of accidents occurred and their severity, and also come up with a profile of the laborers involved in these accidents in order to select 14 of them for the interviews which would be conducted during the following phase. On the second phase, the selected 14 injured workers were interviewed and also an interview was conducted with the manager of the Center of Reference on Workers Health (CEREST). Data crossing the information acquired from the Occupational Accident Attendance Reports and the insight obtained through the interviewshave indicated a series of contributing factors generating these labor accidents. Among these factors are intensification of work pace; increased labor hours; the use of inadequate working tools; lack of personal protective equipment; exposure to agro-toxic materials; exposure to solar radiation, noise and rain and the presence of venomous animals in their labor locations. All these factors are intertwined to their labor conditions and organization. Despite the physical damages caused by these accidents they also incur psychological suffering through the demands of labor organization.

Farm workers are viewed as a neglected segment in the South African society. This qualitative research study focused on exploring and describing the social needs of farm workers in the Central Koup from the perspectives of samples comprising of farm workers and farm owners and/or managers. The aim was to contribute in finding solutions to address the identified needs through employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as one of the areas that an occupational social worker focuses on. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, and the findings were verified with literature. Tesch’s framework for data analysis (in Creswell, 2003) was employed, and data verification was conducted through Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:214-222). The findings indicated that the social needs of farm workers could be addressed through typical EAP-related focus areas such as working- and interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, spiritual well-being, recreation, financial management, conflict management, child care and parenting skills, trauma counselling, and practical assistance regarding transport, housing and accessibility of resources. This research endeavour resulted in recommendations regarding the use of EAPs to address the social needs of farm workers. / M. Soc. Sc.